View From The Rafters: Behind the Scenes with the Boston Celtics

This is where you learn about how Joe Mazzulla REALLY approaches life and basketball 🏀 In Part 1 of our two-part conversation with the Boston Celtics head coach, Mazzulla shares his approach to knowing his players on a deeply personal level, which has led to him traveling all over the world during the offseason to see them in their natural, home environments. The coach also shares a story about how Deuce Tatum said one word following a loss that snapped Mazzulla’s perspective on fatherhood and basketball into a clear image. The conversation then dives into Mazzulla’s outlook on the current team, why depth is so important in the NBA, and – randomly – how aggregators recently pulled a quote of his somewhat out of context. 

00:35: The purpose behind visiting his players in the offseason
05:00: What would we learn about Joe if we went with him to his hometown?
06:30: Building relationships with players of all stages of careers and lives
10:20: An interesting visit to Mitchell Robinson in Nashville
12:00: What Mazzulla likes about this year’s team
14:00: Players working out together in LA this offseason
15:00: Why depth is so important nowadays in the NBA
19:15: A brief discussion on NBA usage
20:15: Aggregators pulling Mazzulla’s quotes out of context

Tipping off View from the Rafters Season 7 in a BIG way 🔥 In this special episode, you get special access to Evan Turner's roundtable discussion with Celtics players Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Mike Conley Jr. at the annual Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation Tip-Off Gala. They discuss everything from their impact in the community, to who would win a 1-on-1 tournament, to who is leader in the clubhouse in the team golf standings. If you want to laugh with the stars, make sure you watch this one all the way through. 

01:10: Jayson Tatum on understanding the “superpower” of pro athletes
04:15: Derrick White on what drew him to the Curbside Care program
06:10: Payton Pritchard explains where his work ethic and drive come from
06:52: Mike Conley on what he appreciates now that his younger self didn’t
07:40: Apparently Jayson Tatum is a sandbagger on the golf course?
08:40: Derrick White is excited to see what the new Celtics provide to the team
09:57: Mike Conley says everyone is buying into the culture
10:35: Payton Pritchard says a lot of Celtics are “ready to take another step”
11:25: Jayson Tatum admits he may have taken the start of seasons for granted before this injury
12:55: Jayson Tatum on how the Celtics are building chemistry off the court
14:10: Mike Conley explains how he used to be excited coming to TD Garden as a visitor
15:20: Payton Pritchard on the Celtics playing with an “underdog mentality”
16:05: Who from the panel would be the best coach?
17:25: Who from the panel would win a 1-on-1 tournament if they were all their 25-year-old selves

Prepare yourself for nearly 40 minutes of Joe Mazzulla gold! From comparing Formula 1 racers to NBA players, to revealing that he has a text thread dedicated to Pet Peeves, to explaining why he’s asked all of the Boston Celtics players to share PowerPoint presentations about themselves with the team this season, this episode has it all. Mazzulla also answers whether he trusts his gut or the data more throughout an NBA season, and dives into how the Celtics have pursued being the smartest team in the league, what stands out most from Jaylen Brown’s MVP-level season, and Anfernee Simons’ professionalism and impact on the C’s. Enjoy the Season 6 finale of View from the Rafters, with Mazzulla, Marc D’Amico and Sean Grande. 

00:25: Pursuit of becoming the smartest team in the NBA
04:20: The perception of “depth” in the NBA is changing
08:20: Players being ready for unpredictable roles, highlighted by Luka Garza
10:20: Why the Celtics don’t have a consistent “rotation”
11:45: Anfernee Simons’ impressive growth with the Celtics
13:42: Mazzulla makes fun of Marc
14:48: Mazzulla’s constant pursuit of expanding his horizons and knowledge
18:56: Are younger players becoming more open to new ideas?
20:35: Celtics players presenting PowerPoints about themselves to the team
24:50: Jaylen Brown’s MVP-level season
27:10: Rapid Fire: Gut or Data, Pet Peeves, Who He’d Want to Fight, Sleep Habits & More

Scratch your 90s nostalgia itch with Dee Brown, who starred for the Celtics from 1990-1998. Brown touches on entering the league on a stacked Celtics team that featured Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Reggie Lewis, and winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie. He also comments on parallels to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s careers, as each of those players entered the league on title-contending teams. Brown goes on to reveal what it meant to him to be named Celtics captain, and his experience participating in and winning ESPN’s ‘Dream Job’ show that featured Stuart Scott, Stephen A. Smith, Woody Page and other famous ESPN personalities. 

00:20: Brown on being back in Boston and getting a standing ovation during the Celtics-Bulls game
06:25: Rookie year, starting out 29-5, Dunk Contest, learning from Bird/McHale/Parish
10:48: Parallels to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s careers
13:30: Shock factor of moving to Boston, seeing Hall of Famers at every practice
15:05: Being named Captain of the Boston Celtics
18:25: Exchanging “Brown No. 7” jerseys with Jaylen Brown, and JB’s legacy
20:02: Brown’s scare with Wellesley police, who mistook him for an alleged bank robber
23:44: Experience of wining ESPN’s ‘Dream Job’ and working alongside Stuart Scott & Stephen A. Smith

Phil Pressey has gone from Celtics player, to Celtics assistant coach, to Maine Celtics head coach. He covers his journey in detail in this week’s episode, including how Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla have influenced his coaching philosophy and daily approach to the job. Pressey tells a crazy story from this season that encapsulates the nature of life in the G League (and he sounds a bit like Joe Mazzulla while telling it). Plus, Pressey gives his insights on Celtics rookie draft picks Amari Williams and Max Shulga, plus two-way player Ron Harper Jr. 

00:10: Becoming head coach of the Maine Celtics and coaching philosophies
06:52: How Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla and European coaches have influenced his coaching style
12:03: Handling the inconsistencies of life in the G League
15:51: Insights on Amari Williams, Ron Harper Jr. and Max Shulga
21:53: Coaching Maine to a franchise-record nine-game win streak
27:53: Crazy stories from life in the G League