BOSTON — After observing the Knicks’ offseason roster changes aimed at strengthening their team, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged feeling motivated.
To enhance their competitiveness against Boston, the Knicks traded Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and multiple draft picks to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.
“I looked at their moves and thought they got better,” Mazzulla remarked. “I believe it was June 28 when they made the trade. Seeing that made me think, ‘Wow, our rivals have improved.’ So, what’s our response? They made those trades to enhance their roster, and we have confidence in our own. It’s about finding ways to improve internally every day.”
The Celtics and Knicks will quickly assess each other’s progress as they face off on Tuesday to kick off the 2024-25 season.
“They’re a strong team, and we believe we are as well. It’s a fantastic first challenge for us, with more to come,” Mazzulla stated. “They have a lot of talented players, so we’ll see how it goes tonight.”
The game will commence after the Celtics receive their championship rings and raise the banner from last year’s victory. Mazzulla emphasized that his team will savor the moment until the game begins.
“We won’t diminish our achievements, but we can’t be too attached to them,” he said. “We experience gratitude for what we’ve accomplished while also being aware of our surroundings and preparing for what’s ahead. That’s the key. With everyone else improving, we need to improve too. This presents a great opportunity for us this year, and we’re looking forward to it.”
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