Podcast Summary: Locked On Celtics - "Can Celtics Be NBA's FASTEST Team? | Can Boston Sustain This INTENSITY?"

Host: John Karalis
Date: October 1, 2025

Overview

In this episode, John Karalis explores the Boston Celtics’ plans to play at a faster pace for the 2025-26 NBA season, asking if they can truly become the league’s fastest team—and more importantly, if they can sustain that intensity over the course of a long season. Drawing on player reactions from the first day of training camp, as well as insight from head coach Joe Mazzulla, Karalis examines what playing “fast” really means for this Celtics roster and who will be crucial in maintaining energy and consistency. The episode also features a spotlight on Xavier Tillman’s offseason transformation and how he could be a key X-factor for Boston.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Training Camp Opens: New Energy, Faster Pace

Segment: [02:12 – 12:24]

• Karalis discusses the strong push in training camp to play with greater pace and intensity, sharing conversations with Josh Minott, Xavier Tillman, and Luka Garza after the first practice.
  • "We got after it. It was up and down, new spot, new this, new that. You could see coaches walking off the floor pouring with sweat." – John Karalis relaying player reactions ([03:28])
• The Celtics' emphasis is on executing faster—getting the ball up the floor quickly, not wasting time in the backcourt, and running through more actions in each offensive possession.
  • “It’s not just play fast, up-tempo, fast-break basketball. You can be a fast-paced team and still a mostly half-court team. That pace number might not actually change a whole lot, but the game will look a lot faster.” ([05:35])
• Last year, the Celtics played at one of the slowest paces in the NBA. The new goal is to bend defenses with multiple actions—not just by exploiting mismatches but by relentless movement and decision-making.

2. What Does "Playing Fast" Really Mean for Boston?

Segment: [05:00 – 09:30]

• Karalis distinguishes between pace as a statistic (possessions per 48 minutes) and the actual feel of offensive tempo on the floor:
  • Although official pace might only change incrementally, the intent is for Boston’s offense to “move the ball from side to side to side and driving and kicking and secondary attacks, third attacks. That is pace.” ([07:11])
• Playing faster isn't just about rushing shots or running constant fast breaks; it's using the shot clock efficiently, maximizing offensive actions, and keeping defenses on their heels.

3. Joe Mazzulla’s Cautious Perspective on Energy & Consistency

Segment: [14:21 – 18:18]

• Coaching insight: Joe Mazzulla offers a measured view after the first practice, seeing Day 1 enthusiasm as fleeting and stressing the need for a sustainable mindset.
  • Quote: “Playing fast, I think, is an overused term...It’s more of a mindset and overall approach. Everyone’s energetic and enthusiastic on day one. I think that’s a waste of time. It goes away relatively quickly. You don’t really want to rely on enthusiasm. You want to rely on the passion, the details, the work ethic and the mindset.” – Joe Mazzulla ([15:38])
• Mazzulla wants his team acting, coaching, playing, and thinking the same way two months from now as on Day 1. He’s challenging the Celtics to maintain intensity and attention to detail throughout the grueling NBA season.
  • Key message: “Day one is over. Nobody cares. Day two, what do you got? Great, you did that. Awesome. Nobody cares anymore. Day three, what do you got? That’s the thing with the NBA and pro sports. You’ve done it. That’s great. Now what?” – John Karalis ([17:56])

4. The Importance of Fringe and Young Players

Segment: [16:30 – 20:48]

• Karalis notes that while established stars (Tatum, Brown, White, etc.) will set the leadership tone, it’s often the young and fringe players—like Minott, Garza, Tillman, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman—who have to provide energy and keep veterans accountable, especially during mid-season doldrums (e.g., the “January swoon”).
  • “It’s going to be these other guys, the younger guys, the fringe guys, who are going to have to wake the veteran guys up with their energy.” ([18:04])

5. Xavier Tillman: A Potential X-factor

Segment: [24:51 – 32:14]

• Tillman has slimmed down by 12 pounds, working with a chef and refining his diet (chicken, salmon, rice). He received knee treatments, which have made him healthier than he’s been in years.
  • “He talked about this summer, losing 12 pounds, switching up his diet...It’s helped him keep that knee inflammation down. He says it’s the lowest it’s been since he’s been part of the Celtics.” ([25:23])
• With Tillman healthy, Boston gains additional frontcourt strength and defensive flexibility. His improved mobility could allow him to guard both bigs in the paint and wings in the corners.
  • “If Tillman is available...and you can kick it to him and he’s going to knock down shots and be guarded...The frontcourt just becomes better.” ([27:12])
• If reliable, Tillman could provide valuable minutes, rebounding, defensive presence, and even become a trade asset.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Josh Minott (as relayed by Karalis), describing Day 1:
  “We got after it.” ([03:15])
• John Karalis on the coaching staff:
  “If the coaches are working that hard, players are working that hard, that’s how The Celtics work…” ([03:46])
• Karalis, on the difference in offensive approach:
  “It’s not just play fast...You can still be a fast-paced team and a mostly half court team.” ([05:38])
• Joe Mazzulla on sustained effort:
  “Everyone’s energetic and enthusiastic on day one. I think that’s a waste of time. It goes away relatively quickly. So you don’t really want to rely on enthusiasm. You want to rely on the passion, the details, the work ethic and the mindset.” ([15:52])
• Karalis, on the grind of the NBA season:
  “Day one is easy...what happens after you don’t get that opportunity? Are you going to fight?...It’s very, a college attitude with Joe, you know? Yes Joe, no Joe. What do you need me to do?” ([17:16])
• On Xavier Tillman’s journey:
  “Keeping that diet in a good spot and dropping the 12 pounds is a big deal and it’s helped him keep that knee inflammation down...He said, I was going through my stuff. My knee would have days where it just swell up into a balloon after I had one scrimmage. So I knew consistency-wise I could be there, but as far as my actual play, I couldn’t do everything I wanted to do.” ([25:53], [29:14])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:12] – Start of episode’s main discussion: Can Celtics be the NBA’s fastest team?
• [05:35] – Explanation of “pace” statistic versus real game tempo
• [14:21] – Introduction to Mazzulla’s philosophy and response to media
• [15:38] – Joe Mazzulla quote on what “playing fast” really means
• [17:56] – Needing more than first-day energy: “Day one is over. Nobody cares...”
• [24:51] – Detailed breakdown of Xavier Tillman’s offseason work and potential impact

Closing Thoughts

Karalis concludes that while the Celtics are indeed making a concerted push to play faster, the challenge will be sustaining that approach beyond training camp euphoria. Joe Mazzulla’s steady, detail-oriented coaching and the hunger of younger/fighting-for-a-roster-spot players could be the keys to enduring intensity. Tillman’s improved health and versatility offer hope for deeper rotations and more lineup flexibility. The journey to truly being the NBA’s fastest—and most consistently intense—team will be defined not in October, but through the inevitable grind of the season.

For Celtics fans and NBA observers, this episode sets the stage for a season built on pace, energy, and overcoming the long haul challenges of remaining at the top.