Mazzulla's Celtics Top Coach Ballot

0:00On April 17th, ESPN's Tim Bond-Tims just dropped his end-of-season NBA award-ballots, and he put Boston Celtics coach Joe Missola at the top for coach of the year. Despite losing key vets like Kristaz Porzingis and Drew Holiday in trades, plus Al Horford and Luke Cornett to free agency, and Jason Tatum missing, most of the year with a right Achilles' tear, the Celtics still finish 56 and 26. Now they're the betting favorites to take the Eastern Conference in the playoffs. Bond-Tims praised Missola for rebuilding the roster around fresh talent and smoothly sliding Tatum back into the mix once he healed up. That turn around turned heads, especially after folks thought Boston was headed for a gap year. Missola's got tough competition, though. Detroit's JB Bickerstaff guided the pistons to their first 61 season in 20 years. San Antonio's Mitch Johnson stepped in for Gregg Popovich and pushed the spurs to 62 series. Bond-Tims also eyed Phoenix's Jordan Ott for 45 wins in his rookie year as headman.

1:02Under Missola, this revamped Celtic squad ranks second in offensive rating and fourth in defense, smashing preseason doubts. On the other ballots, Jalen Brown landed second team all NBA, but missed the top five for MVP, while Derek White made first team all defense and Neumai's Keta hit the second team. As the playoffs heat up, Missola's squad looks primed to prove their no-flook, carrying them momentum straight through the postseason grind. From your team, powered by AI, this is Boston Celtics News Today.