Every year, the Boston Celtics host a pickup basketball game for Celtics media members at their practice facility in Boston. This year, however, Joe Mazzulla had a different idea.
On Tuesday, Mazzulla informed the media that they would be playing against members of the Celtics coaching staff rather than against each other.
“I don’t want to break it to you, but you’re not playing against each other — you’re playing against the coaches,” Mazzulla told reporters before walking away.
Not surprisingly, the 12-minute game was a bloodbath. The coaches smoked the reporters 57-4, destroying them on both ends of the floor at the Auerbach Center.
Boston’s coaches included Mazzulla, former Celtics player Phil Pressey and several former Division I college players, including Tony Dobbins, God Shammgod Jr. and Amile Jefferson. The reporters were no match for them, unable to keep up with their relentless full-court presses and barrage of 3-pointers.
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After proving their superiority, Boston’s coaches let the media play each other for two quarters rather than continuing the beatdown.
On Wednesday, Mazzulla joined the “Zolak & Bertrand” radio show on 98.5 The Sports Hub to explain what prompted the idea. He wanted to “level the playing field” between coaches and reporters and “be in a competitive environment together.”
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“The only thing that would have made it better is if we all went out for a beer after,” Mazzulla joked.
Mazzulla is regarded as one of the most intense coaches in the NBA, and Tuesday’s pickup game proved why. He loves to compete, is always locked in and plays hard until the end, refusing to show an ounce of mercy to the poor reporters.
The Celtics wrap up their preseason schedule against the Toronto Raptors at home tonight. Their regular season kicks off on Oct. 22 against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden.
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