Joe Mazzulla? Jayson Tatum? Someone else?
Recently, I wrote about the pressure on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum. I think, in the absence of Jaylen Brown, that pressure is real.
However, does he have the most pressure on him heading into 2026-27? That's an interesting question, and according to John Zannis of CLNS Celtics, he doesn't thinks so. He thinks the most pressure falls on head coach Joe Mazzulla, saying that if Mazzulla has a good season and loses early in the playoffs, he will be fired.
Why I disagree
If the Celtics win 58 games and lose early in the playoffs, then I could absolutely see Mazzulla getting fired. I don't think Zannis is wrong in that regard, however, I just simply don't see the Celtics having that kind of regular season.
I have personally lowered my expectations on the Celtics in a big way this season after trading Brown. It's not that I think the Celtics are that much worse than they were a year ago, but I think that the Eastern Conference is that much better. And I think in order for the Celtics to have the kind of regular season that Zannis thinks is possible they need to have a very healthy version of Paul George.
I find that hard to believe considering that George has played 56 games or less in six of the last seven seasons. I think the Celtics will have to load manage George in order to keep him healthy, and I think that will cost some regular season wins.
To me, if Mazzulla wins 56-58 games with this roster it will be an overachieving season. At that point, I think he should be commended for what he does, even if it ultimately doesn't culminate in playoff success.
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla talks with forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Petre Thomas-Imagn ImagesFor me, it's Tatum
I just keep coming back to the notion that Tatum has the most pressure on him. He's finally healthy after coming back from his Achilles tear and this is finally his team. People have wondered for years who was the better player between him and Brown.
We saw Brown, in Tatum's absence, put up a Top-6 MVP season last year. If Tatum doesn't beat that this year, then fans will start to wonder if the Celtics made the right choice in building around Tatum.
He needs to justify the organization's decision at every turn this year, and that's something that is hard to do.
While the head coach will always have eyes and critics on him, the players are still the lifeblood of the game. And Tatum will be front and center in all conversations this year.
