Joe Mazzulla's NBA Coach of the Year Odds Take a Hit

After getting thrown into the fire as the NBA's youngest active bench boss, with Erik Spoelstra, widely regarded as the best coach currently in the Association, on the other side of the chess board, Joe Mazzulla nearly helped the Celtics become the first team in league history to erase a 3-0 playoff deficit.

And if Jayson Tatum didn't injure his ankle on the first play of Game 7, perhaps Boston would've made a return trip to the NBA Finals.

Mazzulla then had the summer to learn from his first year at the helm and fill out a staff that's gone from being on the small side to one of the best in the league, with two of the top assistant coaches, Charles Lee and Sam Cassell, flanking him.

After being in survival mode last season, the Johnston, Rhode Island native has placed more of his imprint on the Celtics. That includes crashing the offensive glass more frequently, spinning the dial defensively, and coming up with creative ways to leverage their versatility, for instance, placing Jrue Holiday on Joel Embiid and having the five-time All-Defensive Team selection wreak havoc in the middle of their zone defense.

The C's have also bought into an identity revolving around the connectivity of how what unfolds on one side of the floor influences what happens at the other end.

Their approach has helped maximize the most talented top six in the NBA, translating to a 64-18 record, the best mark in the league, earning them home-court advantage throughout their playoff run.

Apr 5, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla works with the team during a timeout.

Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

But in another testament to how the Celtics' maturation process has significantly benefitted from having Mazzulla at the helm, the team that dominated the regular season doesn't get too high after victories or low after losses, and they stay present, adhering to their mantra to "win the day."

They're also entering the playoffs with an understanding that what happens next isn't scripted. It's not "supposed" to go a particular way, and as their bench boss has emphasized on multiple occasions, "It takes what it takes."

But while Boston's approach may translate to a championship this year, the prospect of Mazzulla earning the Red Auerbach Award for NBA Coach of the Year has taken a hit.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is this season's National Basketball Coaches Association's NBA Coach of the Year, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Thunder exceeded expectations this season, finishing with a 57-25 record, second to only the Celtics, and entering the playoffs atop the Western Conference standings.

Since its inception in 2017, five of the seven recipients of this honor, voted on by the league's 30 head coaches, were also named the NBA's Coach of the Year.

As distinguished as both versions of NBA Coach of the Year are, raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy while riding down Boylston Street on a duck boat in June would be far more gratifying.

Further Reading

After Career Night, Reflective Payton Pritchard Discusses NBA Journey and His Ultimate Pursuit

'Nip That in the Bud': Celtics Address End-of-Season Struggles

Jrue Holiday on Celtics Extension: 'Try to Get More Banners, Get More Rings'

Aiming to Maximize Championship Window, Celtics Extend Jrue Holiday

Jaylen Brown Shares What Latest Milestone Means to Him

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'