Joe Mazzulla didn’t show up in a hoodie, but he might as well have. After the Celtics’ 119-115 loss in Minnesota, Boston’s head coach stepped to the podium and channeled his inner NFL coach - not in attire, but in tone. This wasn’t just a postgame presser; it was a blend of frustration, football metaphors, and a deeper message about physicality, execution, and what it takes to win gritty games on the road.
The Celtics came into Target Center eyeing their third straight win, but instead ran into a Timberwolves team that matched their talent and raised them a level of toughness. And in Mazzulla’s eyes, that physical edge pushed the game beyond what he considers standard NBA fare.
“It was 1st-and-10, and one of their guys made a great tackle on Derrick (White) on the sideline for a loss - that was really good by them,” Mazzulla said with a smirk. “Our offensive line has to do a better job of winning in the trenches and not letting them get to that second layer.”
It was classic Mazzulla - dry, sarcastic, and layered. But underneath the NFL lingo was a real critique: the Celtics got beat in the physicality department, and they didn’t respond well enough.
That’s not a new theme for Mazzulla. He’s long looked beyond basketball for coaching inspiration.
During Boston’s 2024 title run, he cited Micah Parsons’ route-running and the Miami Dolphins’ pre-snap motion as influences on the Celtics’ schemes. He’s borrowed ideas from the UFC, MLB, and even the animal kingdom - think killer whales - all in the name of finding competitive edges.
So when he drops football analogies mid-rant, it’s more than just colorful language. It’s part of his broader coaching philosophy.
Still, Saturday night’s loss wasn’t just about officiating or metaphors. The Celtics had their chances.
Neemias Queta, back from a one-game absence due to a sore left ankle, delivered the best game of his young career. He tied his personal scoring high with 19 points and set a new career mark with 18 rebounds, holding his own against Rudy Gobert - a four-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Queta brought energy, toughness, and efficiency in the paint. But even with that kind of performance, Boston couldn’t out-muscle Minnesota.
The Timberwolves leaned on their depth and physicality. Julius Randle nearly posted a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Naz Reid came off the bench and made his presence felt with 10 points, eight boards, a steal, and two blocks. Minnesota’s bench outperformed Boston’s, and that mattered.
The turning point came in the third quarter. The Timberwolves caught fire, shooting 63.2% from the field (12-of-19) and dropping 35 points in the frame.
The Celtics, meanwhile, went ice cold - 9-of-23 shooting, missed nine threes, and committed four turnovers. A 10-point halftime lead evaporated, and suddenly Boston was trailing 94-92 heading into the fourth.
Jaylen Brown did everything he could to keep the Celtics in it, exploding for 41 points. But even that wasn’t enough to overcome the Timberwolves’ surge and Boston’s own second-half struggles.
And while the free-throw disparity - 20 attempts for Minnesota to Boston’s 15 - doesn’t scream controversy, Mazzulla clearly felt the physical tone of the game tilted in the Wolves’ favor. But he didn’t let his team off the hook, either.
“We have to work extra hard to create those advantages versus bigger, more physical teams,” he said. “They upped their physicality, and we’ve got to create better 2-on-1s - whether it’s with our speed, whether it’s with our screening, or our dribble-drive. We did a good job of that in the first half, and we’ve got to do a better job than we did in the second half.”
That’s the real message here. Mazzulla can joke about offensive lines and tackles all he wants, but what he’s really saying is this: if the Celtics want to beat elite teams - especially ones that bring size and toughness - they’ve got to win the little battles.
Set better screens. Move the ball quicker.
Be sharper with spacing. Create mismatches.
And when the whistle doesn’t go your way, respond with execution, not complaints.
Saturday night was a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough. The Celtics have the roster to compete with anyone.
But to win games like this - on the road, against a physical opponent, in a playoff-style atmosphere - they’ll need to bring more than just firepower. They’ll need grit, adaptability, and a little bit of that “NFL mentality” Mazzulla keeps referencing.