Joe Mazzulla named East’s Coach of the Month for December
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has earned his second career monthly honor and is tied for the third-most Coach of the Month awards in C’s history.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 2: Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics addresses the media during Boston Celtics Media Day at The Auerbach Center on October 2, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
Maddie Malhotra/Getty ImagesA dominant December has come with some well-earned kudos for Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, with Mazzulla officially named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December on Thursday.
Mazzulla's Celtics posted the best overall record in the league in December, with a 12-2 mark. Their .857 winning percentage, meanwhile, was the seventh-best in franchise history for the month of December, and the highest since 2007-08 (a .929 winning percentage). The Celtics also owned the best winning percentage against opponents who entered play at .500 or better, with an 8-1 record (.889).
According to the Celtics, the Celtics also scored more than 125 points in four straight road games for the first time in franchise history during their California road trip from Dec. 19-25, including wins over the Kings (144-119), Clippers (145-108), and Lakers (126-115). Boston also scored 144-plus points in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history and became one of only three teams in NBA history to accomplish that feat on the road. Boston scored at least 920 total points over a seven-game span for the first time since 1962.
In his second year as the C's head coach, this was Mazzulla's second career monthly honor, and is now tied for the third-most Coach of the Month awards in franchise history, behind Doc Rivers (6) and Brad Stevens (3).
