When the Celtics suspended Ime Udoka on the eve of training camp, Brad Stevens trusted Joe Mazzulla enough to take over as the team’s interim head coach despite his inexperience and an organization going through uncertainty.
In February, that confidence continued to carry through as Stevens took the interim tag off Mazzulla and gave him a contract extension.
Now comes the true test of Stevens’ faith in Mazzulla, who will coach his first career playoff game when the Celtics open the first round at home on Saturday against either the Heat or Hawks. Mazzulla guided a successful regular season for the Celtics, who finished with 57 wins and the No. 2 seed. But the playoffs – and coaching a team with championship-or-bust aspirations – presents a different, more complicated challenge.
