BOSTON — The Celtics opened training camp reporting excellent chemistry, strong energy and generally positive vibes, prompting head coach Joe Mazzulla to remind everyone that absolutely nothing bad has happened yet.
“Of course everybody likes each other,” Mazzulla reportedly said. “Nobody’s been benched. Nobody’s lost four straight. Nobody’s been blamed by the media. Give it time.”
Boston entered camp with a reshaped roster after trading Jaylen Brown, but players have spoken positively about the group’s early chemistry. Mazzulla was less interested in celebrating.
According to the Celtics coach, true togetherness cannot be measured until someone has gone eight minutes without touching the ball, another player is getting blamed on television, and at least one person has spent a road trip quietly staring out of a hotel window.
“Right now every team feels good,” Mazzulla said. “That means nothing.”
Sources say several Celtics players initially laughed.
Mazzulla did not.
The coach reportedly then explained that adversity would eventually reveal the team’s real character before clarifying that “adversity” was probably too dramatic a word for professional basketball.
He followed that by suggesting players should consider golfing during heavy rain to determine whether they truly love the sport.
Team officials later described morale as “still good, but now slightly concerned.”
Mazzulla, meanwhile, appeared satisfied.
The Celtics have not yet faced a losing streak, locker-room tension or prolonged shooting slump.
For now, everyone is happy.
Coach is monitoring the situation closely.
