View From The Rafters: Behind the Scenes with the Boston Celtics

Prepare yourself for nearly 40 minutes of Joe Mazzulla gold! From comparing Formula 1 racers to NBA players, to revealing that he has a text thread dedicated to Pet Peeves, to explaining why he’s asked all of the Boston Celtics players to share PowerPoint presentations about themselves with the team this season, this episode has it all. Mazzulla also answers whether he trusts his gut or the data more throughout an NBA season, and dives into how the Celtics have pursued being the smartest team in the league, what stands out most from Jaylen Brown’s MVP-level season, and Anfernee Simons’ professionalism and impact on the C’s. Enjoy the Season 6 finale of View from the Rafters, with Mazzulla, Marc D’Amico and Sean Grande. 

00:25: Pursuit of becoming the smartest team in the NBA
04:20: The perception of “depth” in the NBA is changing
08:20: Players being ready for unpredictable roles, highlighted by Luka Garza
10:20: Why the Celtics don’t have a consistent “rotation”
11:45: Anfernee Simons’ impressive growth with the Celtics
13:42: Mazzulla makes fun of Marc
14:48: Mazzulla’s constant pursuit of expanding his horizons and knowledge
18:56: Are younger players becoming more open to new ideas?
20:35: Celtics players presenting PowerPoints about themselves to the team
24:50: Jaylen Brown’s MVP-level season
27:10: Rapid Fire: Gut or Data, Pet Peeves, Who He’d Want to Fight, Sleep Habits & More

Scratch your 90s nostalgia itch with Dee Brown, who starred for the Celtics from 1990-1998. Brown touches on entering the league on a stacked Celtics team that featured Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Reggie Lewis, and winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie. He also comments on parallels to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s careers, as each of those players entered the league on title-contending teams. Brown goes on to reveal what it meant to him to be named Celtics captain, and his experience participating in and winning ESPN’s ‘Dream Job’ show that featured Stuart Scott, Stephen A. Smith, Woody Page and other famous ESPN personalities. 

00:20: Brown on being back in Boston and getting a standing ovation during the Celtics-Bulls game
06:25: Rookie year, starting out 29-5, Dunk Contest, learning from Bird/McHale/Parish
10:48: Parallels to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s careers
13:30: Shock factor of moving to Boston, seeing Hall of Famers at every practice
15:05: Being named Captain of the Boston Celtics
18:25: Exchanging “Brown No. 7” jerseys with Jaylen Brown, and JB’s legacy
20:02: Brown’s scare with Wellesley police, who mistook him for an alleged bank robber
23:44: Experience of wining ESPN’s ‘Dream Job’ and working alongside Stuart Scott & Stephen A. Smith

Phil Pressey has gone from Celtics player, to Celtics assistant coach, to Maine Celtics head coach. He covers his journey in detail in this week’s episode, including how Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla have influenced his coaching philosophy and daily approach to the job. Pressey tells a crazy story from this season that encapsulates the nature of life in the G League (and he sounds a bit like Joe Mazzulla while telling it). Plus, Pressey gives his insights on Celtics rookie draft picks Amari Williams and Max Shulga, plus two-way player Ron Harper Jr. 

00:10: Becoming head coach of the Maine Celtics and coaching philosophies
06:52: How Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla and European coaches have influenced his coaching style
12:03: Handling the inconsistencies of life in the G League
15:51: Insights on Amari Williams, Ron Harper Jr. and Max Shulga
21:53: Coaching Maine to a franchise-record nine-game win streak
27:53: Crazy stories from life in the G League

Jordan Walsh made a presentation to his Celtics teammates this season about anime. He tells you how it came up and what he taught them, and how the exercise has built team chemistry. Walsh also details the mental struggles of his first two seasons in the NBA, and what has led to his sudden emergence as a critical player for the Celtics. The third-year forward, who sits next to superstar Jaylen Brown on the team plane, also brings viewers into what it’s like to be next to Brown every day, and the comment from Jayson Tatum that got Walsh through his first two seasons. 

00:30: Walsh explains his love of anime and his presentation to the Celtics
04:50: Favorite nicknames so far
05:42: What led to his sudden emergence
08:15: Sitting next to Jaylen Brown on the team plane
11:45: Defending opposing superstars
14:20: Getting through the difficult times
17:45: Secret sauce of the development program at the Celtics

Dominique Wilkins, knnown as the Human Highlight Film, had one of the most successful returns from a ruptured Achilles in NBA history, as he returned to action after just 10 months and averaged 30 points per game that season. As Jayson Tatum recovers from his own Achilles tear, Wilkins gives advice and insight into what it takes to successfully return from the injury. Wilkins also turns the clock back to his memorable matchups against Larry Bird and the dynasty Celtics of the 1980s, and details his experience of signing with the Celtics in 1994 and what made him choose to live in Boston for years after his retirement.

00:55: Suffering an Achilles tear and the process of returning to play
08:00: Playing in Boston as a visiting player in the 1980s
13:45: Historic battle with Larry Bird in Game.7 in 1988
19:45: Top memories of playing for the Celtics and living in Boston
23:30: Leaving North Carolina and the ACC to play for Georgia in the SEC
24:45: Playing in the final game in the old Boston Garden
26:30: Jaylen Brown honoring Dominique in the Slam Dunk Contest