Celtics Beat Episode 651 Summary

Episode Title: Is Mazzulla the RIGHT Coach for THIS Celtics Team?
Release Date: November 22, 2025
Host: Adam Kaufman (CLNS Media Sports Network)
Guests: Justin Turpin (WEEI), Evan Valenti

Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam Kaufman is joined for the first time by Justin Turpin from WEEI, along with recurring co-host Evan Valenti. The trio takes a 10,000-foot view of the 2025-26 Boston Celtics, who are fresh off a stretch of improved play but still operating in a transitional, post-contending phase. The central question posed: Is Joe Mazzulla the right coach for this “gap year” Celtics team, with so many developmental players and shifting lineups? The episode explores coaching philosophies, player development highlights, the emerging identity of the squad, and realistic expectations for the season ahead.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Celtics' Current State: Reset Year with Unexpected Wins

• Celtics sit over .500 (at 8-7, pre-Brooklyn game) for the first time this year, sparking debate over whether to root for wins or draft lottery positioning.
  • Adam: "For them to be over .500 with the start to the season they have, with that schedule—you feel pretty good." (03:20)
• Acknowledgement that this is a ‘down year’ by Celtics standards, yet the team remains competitive and entertaining.
  • Justin: "It's not what you're used to with this team... For them, all the top guys down, every player on the roster coming in and just giving it their all every night, like you could respect that." (07:52)
  • Evan: "This is the worst season the Celtics are going to have in like a decade is like this season right here where they're like going to kind of figure out what the hell they are." (07:24)
• Comparison to other struggling teams focuses on Celtics' resilience and effort.
  • Evan: "They're not getting the doors blown off... even the Washington Wizards have more fight in them than what the Kings are doing and what the Grizzlies are doing."

Is Joe Mazzulla the Right Coach for This Moment?

Mentality and Competitiveness

• Turpin supports Mazzulla as ideal for Boston’s situation:
  • "At the risk of sounding like a mega homer here, I think he's the best option for them in this situation from an Xs and Os standpoint and from a mentality standpoint." (11:44)
  • Praises Mazzulla for holding stars (e.g., Jaylen Brown) and young players to a high standard, ensuring buy-in amid constant lineup changes.
  • "Jalen Brown the other night played 10 minutes in the first half. He goes, ‘Well, Joe's just holding me the standard. Like, I get it. I was playing poorly.’" (12:19)

Development and Adaptation

• Mazzulla credited for fostering player growth and adjusting system:
  • Evan: "All those guys in this umbrella, in this system with Joe Missoula, have gotten better since they were last year. There's no question about it." (13:25)
  • Notable improvement in team’s defensive aggression and willingness to gamble for turnovers, at the cost of higher foul rates.
  • "They're playing a little differently and there's some examples of this, but the biggest one to me, and this is defensively, is they've gone from one of the worst turnover forcing teams in the league to like middle of the pack, which is a ginormous jump from what they were." (13:25)
• Emergence of young players and successful reclamation projects:
  • Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, Neemias Queta, and others noted as making substantial year-over-year improvement under Mazzulla’s watch (16:06-17:38).

Evaluation of Mazzulla’s Future

• Evan:
  • "I questioned whether Joe was the right guy for this job throughout the summer ... Nothing so far this year has made me feel like that particular storyline is actually going to happen. This has gone, I think, as well as anybody could have reasonably asked for." (15:17)

Individual Player Spotlights

Peyton Pritchard and Derrick White: Shooting Return

• Pritchard and White had early shooting slumps, but have recently bounced back:
  • Pritchard: 46.3% from three (last six games, 9 attempts/game)
  • White: 38.6% from three (last five games, 8.8 attempts/game)
  • Justin: "They had to adjust to their new roles ... Derrick White in particular is doing a lot more creating for himself this year, off the dribble as opposed to just catch and shoot." (20:50)
• Pritchard’s in-between game and finishing against larger defenders called 'one of the best developments they've had.' (22:05)

Neemias Queta: A Success in the Big Man Rotation

• Queta receives high praise for his impact and efficiency:
  • Justin: "It's not hyperbolic to say [Queta] has been one of the most impactful centers in the entire league ... The Celtics are outscoring opponents by 131 points with Kate on the floor. That's a team best." (24:13)
  • Acknowledges that some of his positive on/off numbers might reflect weak depth behind him, but he's established himself as a quality backup center.
• Both Justin and Evan agree Queta is an ideal backup big, but a starting-caliber, true stretch center will still be a summer need.
  • Adam: "What kind of role would you like to see him have on this team?... backup big, starting big?"
  • Justin: "The answer would be backup...I really want more of a guy that can stretch the floor." (26:24)

The Anthony Simons Conundrum

• Simons’ fit, productivity, and future as a trade piece discussed at length:
  • Adam: "Is [Simons] playing less of a role through 15 games than you thought he might coming in?"
  • Justin: "Oh, for sure. When you're reading those numbers specifically at 25 minutes of game, like it feels like some of those minutes are invisible... It feels like just we're back to the Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon and Marcus Smart trio... it's just such an odd kind of mixture, where it just doesn't really work out." (33:01)
  • Consensus: Simons isn't a fit for the future, is only being used situationally, and likely to be moved when feasible. (35:56)
  • Debate on whether current usage 'tanks' his value or whether the league already knows what he is (37:18-38:49).
  • Evan: "He could change his own perception by buying in here a little bit more. That's all I'm saying." (41:11)

Upcoming Schedule Expectations & What’s at Stake

• Crucial stretch approaching: Orlando (Magic), Detroit (hottest team besides OKC), Minnesota, Cleveland.
  • Adam: "Where we are right now feels like you'd be lucky to go two and two during this stretch. What is your feeling about these upcoming games?" (43:30)
  • Justin: "This little stretch is going to tell you a lot about this team... you're going to have to shoot the ball effectively to win these games. Even the Cleveland game... you're going to see a different version than you beat earlier in the year. So this is going to tell a lot about this team." (44:59)

Notable Quotes

• Justin Turpin, on Mazzulla’s standards:
  "Jalen Brown the other night played 10 minutes in the first half. He goes, ‘Well, Joe's just holding me the standard. Like, I get it. I was playing poorly.’" [12:19]
• Adam on coaching evaluation:
  "Is Joe Mazzulla the right coach for NBA purgatory?" [11:44]
• Evan, grateful for the Celtics’ “down year”:
  "This is the worst season the Celtics are going to have in like a decade ... This is amazing that this is the down years of the Celtics recently." [07:24]
• Justin on Queta:
  "I'm not taking away from him at all, but has he been that great that the numbers are that stark? ... I think that has to do a lot with the lineups...But he's been great. And I'm with you. He's shown he can be a second center on this team and that's a big deal, especially with the new second apron restrictions..." [24:13]
• Adam’s perspective on roster-building:
  "Brad Stevens has been clear about this from day one. Like the most important move, the most impactful move that they're going to make ... is getting Jason Tatum back on the floor. And it's going to be all about complementing him with players that best suit him. And I think that would be a true stretch five..." [26:24]

Segment Timestamps

• Opening Celtics State of Play, Transition Year: 00:59 – 09:21
• Is Mazzulla the Right Coach? 11:44 – 17:38
• Player Development Highlights (Walsh, Queta, Scheierman): 13:25 – 17:38
• Prize Picks Ad (skipped) and Return: 17:38 – 19:49
• Pritchard & White: Return of the Three: 19:49 – 22:46
• Big Man Rotation, Queta/Cornet/Floor Spacers Debate: 22:46 – 31:26
• Anthony Simons’ Role, Future, Trade Value: 31:26 – 42:44
• Upcoming Schedule and Team Outlook: 43:30 – 46:04

Tone and Language

Throughout the episode, the tone is pragmatic but loyal, with the hosts expressing appreciation for meaningful effort, respect for coaching discipline, and the positives of “gap year” development. The language is candid, sometimes irreverent (occasional swearing, jokes about past misfortunes), but always rooted in analysis and fandom. The episode is engaging for fans wanting to understand both this season’s realities and the bigger strategic vision.

For New Listeners:

If you haven’t been following the 2025-26 Celtics closely, this episode serves as both a snapshot of the team's transitional state and a deeper conversation about the importance of coaching, internal development, and realistic goals during a reset campaign.