The Joe Mazzulla Column

Shank takes a slightly different look at the Boston Celtics during their playoff run, with the focus on head coach Joe Mazzulla:

Can Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla relax now with a series lead against the 76ers? No chance.

PHILADELPHIA — The Celtics led almost from wire to wire and beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 114-102, in Game 3 of their conference semifinal Friday at the Wells Fargo Center. Boston leads the series, 2-1, and has a great shot to get back to the Finals and maybe win the franchise’s 18th banner.

“I think we managed the game well,” coach Joe Mazzulla said after the win. " … It’s the playoffs. We’re playing against a great team … every possession is a round. Our only expectation is to be ahead at the end of the game.”

Can the super-serious Celtics rookie coach Joe Mazzulla now relax?

No way.

Mazzulla is tightly wound. He is cut in the mold of Ralph Nader, Colonel Nathan Jessup, and … dare we say … Bill Belichick? Let’s just say he’s unlikely to get a call if NESN needs someone to replace Charlie Moore, the Mad Fisherman.

Whatever that's supposed to mean...