Joe Mazzulla

He woke up every day in January convinced he was going to be fired

When we were that, that stretch in January where we weren't playing well, I was woke up every day and told myself I'm getting fired if we don't turn. I'm, I'm, I'm done... and I would tell the staff too, I'm like, guys, we're done. Like, you know, we don't figure this thing out, you know, like we, we just, we don't deserve to coach here.

Soccer cutting and spacing tactics translate directly to basketball

Cutting a place. You know, the way you cut can open up a two on one, you know, for the guy next to you... to move the defense. That stuff comes from soccer. That's my favorite sport to watch.

Success in the playoffs isn't about following a specific curriculum or number of games

there's just no one way to go about achieving your goal. Like if you study the rounds leading up to a successful team, there's no curriculum of like, you have to go five this one, you have to go six this one, you can't go seven here, you can't lose game one... being open-minded to knowing that it'll be one of the hardest things that we ever go through together.

Tearing my meniscus was one of the best things that happened to me this season

I'll tell you what, it almost, it was one of the best things that happened to me for the rest of the season. 'Cause it put me in like this fight or flight mentality to where like I could just not relax... I've been thinking about maybe getting hurt every All-Star break.

I would rather get blown out than lose a close game

I'd rather get my ass kicked than lose a close one. You lose a close one, guys play 40, 42 minutes, they're tired, you know, you gotta travel back. You get blown out, take the guys out, they play 25 minutes, get the boys some rest, and you know, you kind of regroup the next day.

The Joker is more dangerous than Batman because he is willing to do whatever it takes

The issue with Batman is like he's not willing to do whatever it takes. Like he has a chance to throw [Joker] off the cliff at the end of the second one and he doesn't do it. He saves his life. And so like the scary thing about Batman is like is he willing to go the extra mile to do what's necessary for the greater good? And that's the danger part of Joker is like he's willing to go the extra mile to get his point across.

Hank has until the end of the Celtics parade on Friday to shave his head

24 hours... [actually] I think let's give him a little leeway here. Let's say until the parade is over. Friday afternoon... Because then now you're people like you, Hank, will be the reason why we struggle next year because we're trying to get ready for the next season. Shaving your head is the beginning of us turning the page.

Most people tap out in Jiu-Jitsu because of the fear of being in the submission, not because it actually hurts yet

Most people tap before it actually, like before the submission actually hurts, right? It's like the fear of being in the submission is when you tap. And so like that can be applicable to handling championship expectations or success.

The more successful you are, the closer you are to losing

The closer you are to winning, the closer you are to losing. Right? So like, you saw it at UFC 300... most people can't handle the fact that you think you beat your opponent, but now you still have to fight them.

You can't allow the best player on the opposing team to take a practice shot after the whistle because it's insulting and helps them find rhythm

I don't understand how you could give your opponent any opportunity to feel good about themselves on your half of the turf... I don't think there's anything more insulting than allowing your opponent to do that... What if that one kind of gets the, gets him the rhythm that he needs to make one?

I refuse to walk through revolving doors because you are a sitting duck if they get stuck

I won't walk through revolving doors. Because like one of them gets stuck, then you're just a sitting duck. Avoid them. Get stuck, you're, you're screwed.

I never sit with my back to the door in restaurants so I can always have a vantage point

I never sit with my back to the door like you in a restaurant. I never sit with my back to the door. You always gotta sit to where You can have a vantage point of like, everything that's going on around you.

The Ninja Turtles are the Mount Rushmore of Italians

I think the Ninja Turtles are probably up there [on the Mount Rushmore of Italians]... Rafael's more my personality. Michelangelo is my son's favorite, so I flock to him.