‘Sicko’ Joe Mazzulla probably enjoyed Mavericks almost coming back from 20-point deficit, says Derrick White

Joe Mazzulla uses examples of adversity to help his team get through tough situations.

‘Sicko’ Joe Mazzulla probably enjoyed Mavericks almost coming back from 20-point deficit, says Derrick White

Boston Celtics star Derrick White suggested HC Joe Mazzulla probably enjoyed Dallas Mavericks almost erasing 20-point deficit

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is known around the league as a basketball savant. Interestingly, the coach can reveal how he saw a game develop in the most intrinsic way possible. However, he also knows that a team cannot get comfortable when a game is on the line. This is what led Derrick White to make an absurd claim about Mazulla.

White suggested that his head coach probably enjoyed when the Dallas Mavericks almost completed a comeback from down 20 points. Celtics on NBC Sports Boston asked Derrick White about his head coach’s mindset when the Mavericks were clawing away at the deficit. The Celtics guard had an interesting answer.

Joe is consistent the whole time. He's probably so happy that it happened like that so that he can continue to tell us that. He just stays consistent, he just makes the right calls, and we just trust him completely.
Derrick White via Celtics on NBC Sports Boston
YouTube video

The reporter continued to ask if the second-year head coach was enjoying the situation. White’s reply might make the listeners curious.

FS Video
He's a sicko, so probably.
Derrick White via Celtics on NBC Sports Boston

White meant that his head coach probably wanted them to lose that lead. As such, he could rile them up to go back out and finish the game. Derrick White and his teammates did exactly that. After Luka Doncic was called a foul with 4 minutes left, the Mavericks challenged the play immediately.

Mazzulla took the opportunity to give his players words of wisdom. It is something that helped them fend off any continuation of that rally and go on to win game 3 of the NBA Finals. Now, they remain just one win away from an NBA championship.

He probably used the technique of trying to rile up players when they were down. It is something that, most of the time, ends up helping the team refocus on the task at hand. That goes to show that Joe Mazzulla is a coach who uses situations to help his team, just as a basketball savant does.

For Joe Mazzulla the job is not finished

Joe Mazzulla has a mindset that one can lose even if they are in a commanding position. Considering the state of the finals series, which is at 3-0 for the Celtics, one can wonder if the team can choke it all away. A reporter in the press conference asked him about this scenario. Mazzulla had an interesting answer in response. 

If you've ever been in a fight with someone, and you think about to beat him, you usually get sucker punched. The closer you are to beating someone, the close you are to getting your ass kicked.
Joe Mazzulla via press conference Game 3 of the NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics head coach referenced using clips of UFC fights to showcase this scenario. UFC fights sometimes illustrate that one remains vulnerable when they are on the cusp of victory. Many great champions have lost in brutal fashions. As such, Mazzulla remains cautious.

The Mavericks are the best team in the Western Conference for a reason. Taking it easy will result in a blow to the face. Joe Mazzulla prefers his team to be ready for any adversity to win their first NBA title in almost 16 years.

In case you missed: