"I hope I can see the red dot" - Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla delivers epic response about team's quest for back-to-back titles
As the 2024-25 NBA season fast approaches, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla recently touched on his squad's upcoming title defense bid. The first-time NBA champion expressed immense confidence in the Celtics' chances of going back-to-back.
Boston, headlined by its superstar duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, faced little resistance this past season en route to its record-setting 18th title. After securing a league-best 64-18 regular-season record, it went 16-3 in the playoffs, finishing 80-21 overall.
Despite the Celtics' year-long dominance, some have questioned their championship run's validity. Their critics typically highlight their playoff opponents' injuries and the fact they avoided facing any of the Eastern and Western Conference's top three seeds.
Nevertheless, during a Wednesday appearance on the "Locked on Celtics" podcast, Mazzulla welcomed his team's challenge of transitioning from the hunter to the hunted.
"We're gonna have difficult moments of the season. That's going to happen," Mazzulla said. "People are gonna say the target is on our back, but I hope it's right on our forehead, in between our eyes. I hope I can see the red dot."
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The NBA has crowned a different champion in six consecutive seasons. The last repeat winner of the Larry O'Brien Trophy was the Golden State Warriors' Steph Curry and Kevin Durant-led superteam in 2017 and 2018.
Moreover, Boston has essentially maintained its title-winning roster, not making any major offseason additions. Meanwhile, some of the East and West's premier contenders have bolstered their rosters this summer. That includes the Celtics' inter-conference rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers, who landed star wing Paul George and other proven depth pieces.
So, Boston will likely face a tough road to Banner 19. However, the squad mimicking its coach's apparent locked-in mindset should go a long way toward accomplishing its goal.
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Joe Mazzulla's Celtics enter 2024-25 season as NBA title favorites
Amid Joe Mazzulla's defiant comments embracing Boston potentially being the NBA's most hunted team, his squad enters the 2024-25 campaign as championship favorites.
Most betting sites, like FanDuel and Bet365, have the Celtics' title odds listed in the +300 range. Meanwhile, teams like Philly, the OKC Thunder and the Denver Nuggets are vying for the second-best odds.
Mazzulla and Co.'s preseason schedule begins on Oct. 4 against Denver in Abu Dhabi, marking a showdown between the league's last two champions. A few weeks later, Boston will commence its title defense when it hosts the New York Knicks for its first regular-season matchup on Oct. 22.
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