Will the Cs make any major changes this offseason? Chris Mannix weighs in originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Another year, another disappointment for the Boston Celtics.
What was once a promising 2022-23 season ended unceremoniously Monday night with a loss to the No. 8 seed Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. They had a chance to make history by becoming the first NBA team to come back from 0-3 down in a playoff series. Instead, they were blown in front of their home crowd, 103-84.
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Predictably, the disappointing loss has already sparked a number of flashpoints over how the Celtics should proceed this offseason. Should they pay Jaylen Brown his $295 million supermax contract or trade him? Should they give Joe Mazzulla another chance or find a more experienced coach?
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix joined Mike Felger on Boston Sports Tonight to share his thoughts on the changes the Cs could make this summer.
“I don’t expect there to be any seismic shifts with this roster this offseason,” Mannix said Monday night. “I still expect the Celtics to make Jaylen Brown a top-level offer, and I expect him to eventually sign it because, frankly, players don’t turn down those types of offers.”
As for the coaching situation, Mannix expects Mazzulla to wipe the slate clean with his own staff.
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“I think the biggest changes will come from Joe Mazzulla’s coaching staff,” he said. “I think there will be one or two assistants who decide to leave and join Ime Udoka in Houston. And I think Mazzulla, who really had no opportunity to select guys on his own staff, will have the chance to do it. .
“I would expect a guy like Stephen Silas, the former Houston head coach, to be one of the best candidates to be on Joe Mazzulla’s bench. There are others who, j “I’m sure will be considered. But I think the only real changes will come from the coaching staff, not the roster.”
Mazzulla faced criticism throughout the season and playoffs for his timeout handling. He also took some heat for the Celtics who didn’t look ready to play on several occasions, including their 26-point Game 3 loss to Miami.
Despite Mazzulla’s flaws, which can be attributed to his lack of experience as a head coach, Mannix believes he has the full support of the Celtics’ president of basketball operations.
“I’ve always believed there was and there was some loyalty between Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla,” Mannix said. “He’s the closest Brad has to a protege.
“Now there may have been some pressure above Brad Stevens to maybe make a change if this team had been swept in this series. But the fact that they got to seven games, makes it that Jayson Tatum was injured in the first offensive play the Celtics had, I think that’s enough extenuating circumstances for even the most cynical critic of Joe Mazzulla to at least give him another chance with a full coaching staff. next year.”
You can watch Boston Sports Tonight’s full segment with Mannix and Felger below.