Image Source: NBA Sports
[Saba Sports News] Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla’s unconventional block tactic has been brought to a halt. Mazzulla informed reporters on Wednesday that he has been instructed to discontinue the practice from the bench.
“I’ve been told I can’t do that anymore,” Mazzulla stated, as reported by Brian Robb of MassLive.com. “I can’t say [who the directive came from]. All I know is I won’t be doing that anymore.”
Mazzulla gained attention during a recent game against the Phoenix Suns for leaping from the sideline to contest a practice shot by an opponent after the whistle, a move that was highly unorthodox for a coach and sparked controversy. NBA analyst Charles Barkley even commented on national television that he would have reacted differently to Mazzulla’s actions.
A former college basketball player at West Virginia, 35-year-old Mazzulla’s move raised concerns about potential liability issues if a coach were to inadvertently cause injury to a player, even after the whistle. With the Celtics boasting an impressive 54-14 record this season, they are expected to perform well without the need for such interventions from Mazzulla.