Joe Mazzulla is known for his love of martial arts. Tuesday, he argued that the NBA needs more fighting, too.
Joe Mazzulla on @ZoAndBeetleShow on desired NBA rule changes initially pitches idea of NBA power play (5 vs. 4 after fouls) then really goes full Joe:
“The biggest thing that we rob people of, from an entertainment standpoint, is you can’t fight any more. I wish you could bring…
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) October 29, 2024
Speaking on a Boston radio show, the Boston Celtics head coach told hosts Scott Zolak and Marc Betrand, “I wish you could bring back fighting… what’s more entertaining than a little scuffle?”
Mazzulla thinks it’s unfair that sports like baseball can have brawls involving whole teams and hockey can have fights while the players are literally wielding sticks, while the NBA reviews any hard contact and punishes fighting severely.
“I just don’t get why some sports are allowed to clear the benches. They have bats and weapons; we don’t. We just have a ball,” Mazzulla argued. “The other sport has one of the hardest surfaces and playing instruments in pucks and sticks, and we’re not allowed to throw down a little bit.”
Mazzulla clearly likes it when things get a little physical. After the Celtics hired him to be their head coach ahead of the 2022–23 season, Mazzulla started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He’s always trying to heighten his awareness, like when he told “Pardon My Take” last season that he always studies exits wherever he is and refuses to use revolving doors because they leave him vulnerable to attack.
Fascinating insight from Joe Mazzulla into his mindset on @PardonMyTake. Says he never uses revolving doors, studies the exits of every room he’s in, and uses watching cartoons with his kids as a chance to teach them lessons:
“How can I win every situation or environment?” pic.twitter.com/EmJ4rADA7J
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) April 19, 2024
That’s the kind of mentality that can keep a defending champion like the Celtics from getting complacent. Can the team really relax on the court when their head coach is making substitutions, working the officials, and drawing up plays while simultaneously scanning the crowd for potential assassins?
Much of the NBA’s opposition to fighting, which includes severe penalties for leaving the bench during an altercation, stems from a fight from 1977, when Kermit Washington leveled Rudy Tomjanovich with a punch that shattered his face, knocking him out of the NBA for five months.
The mere size of players, coupled with the NBA’s image-conscious approach, means the league isn’t likely to follow Mazzulla’s pro-fighting suggestion. Nor are they likely to adopt the coach’s idea for “power plays” in the NBA (clearly Mazzulla had hockey on the brain) to make intentional fouls more punishing to the defense.
“There should be like a power play where, on a take foul, on a technical, you have to play five-on-four for five seconds or three passes,” Mazzulla added.
The spirit of the idea might be correct, but just like Mazzulla’s idea to open up limited fisticuffs, the power play idea might be too much for the league’s overburdened officials. Considering how long a simple replay review lasts, managing a power play might be more trouble than it’s worth.
Meanwhile, Mazzulla’s team has fought its way to a 4-0 record, creating chaos on the court and stability at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Joe Mazzulla asked about this moment:
“No frustration. Just trying to create as much chaos as we can.” https://t.co/N0NUvttx40 pic.twitter.com/FHAgge2kzo
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) October 29, 2024
