Tom Thibodeau led the Knicks past the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but was fired after New York lost in the conference finals.
Tom Thibodeau led the Knicks past the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but was fired after New York lost in the conference finals.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
There was a special guest Monday at Celtics practice and his presence could pay major dividends for a team seeking an identity and to positively navigate a difficult early-season schedule.
Talking to Joe Mazzulla and Jayson Tatum as the media was allowed into the workout was former Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, just five months after his club unseated the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals and got within two wins of the NBA Finals.
Despite New York’s best season in 25 years, Thibodeau, a former Celtics assistant under Doc Rivers, was fired days after the season ended. He was replaced by the well-traveled Mike Brown. Thibodeau, who has intimated he plans on taking the season off, visited the Celtics and offered advice to players and coaches during film sessions.
Former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins watched Celtics practice this month as Mazzulla has been open to various college and professional coaches, but none had developed a plan to beat the defending champions in a seven-game series.
“He’s been one of the best coaches around for a long time,” Mazzulla said of Thibodeau. “He worked here. Won a championship here. Just having him around makes me better, makes the organization better, so there’s a lot of respect for him.”
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, one of the primary players Thibodeau game-planned against last spring, said he enjoyed watching film with the veteran coach.
“I think that was awesome having Thibs,” Brown said. “Obviously they eliminated us last year so him being able to give us some of the thoughts that he saw in that series and some of the stuff they broke down in our personnel helps us grow and learn from that. We lost last year and it stung losing to the Knicks, so to have Thibs here at our practice and explaining some of the things that he saw that beat us only helps me get better. I value that.
“Shout out to Thibs for being here today.”
Brown said he learned “a lot” from the film session that could impact his season.
“Being able to talk to him and ask questions about what he was seeing, he’s breaking down some film, talking to Joe from a team perspective,” Brown said. “And from a top-down perspective, what he wanted to do with me and Jayson and what he wanted to do when the ball was in my hands, it allows you to grow. If you’re humble enough to listen, it will allow you to grow.”
Brown improving
After leaving last Wednesday’s preseason game with hamstring tightness, Brown fully participated in practice and indicated he expects to play in the season opener against the 76ers. Brown has had hamstring issues but did go through part of practice Friday before ramping up his workouts Monday.
Said Brown: “We’ll take it one day at a time but for now, I feel great. I was fine, just maybe a little tweak but nothing crazy.
Proud father
Mazzulla missed the Celtics annual season-kickoff gala Friday to attend the high school football game of his stepson Michael Harden, a tight end and linebacker for Xaverian, the Globe’s No. 2-ranked team. The Hawks edged previously top-ranked Catholic Memorial.
The Celtics coach is a constant at Xaverian games.
“My family has done a lot, sacrificing for all my BS and the career that I have,” Mazzulla said. “And to be able to give back to him and just support him to where the family isn’t always surrounded around what’s going on in my life, for these two or three hours you’re the most important person in our family and you have to support that.”
Mazzulla said he is more of a football observer than a serious fan but does offer Harden advice.
“The principles remain the same regardless of the sport,” he said. “I don’t know much about it but it’s still a ton of stuff you can do [that’s the same] situational execution, being able to have the understanding of teaching them the stuff within the game, recognizing plays. It’s great to be able to support him. There’s something bigger than what I’m doing and every time you have a chance to coach them up, you do that. Some of the stuff I think translates.”
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.