Joe Mazzulla Thanks Pep Guardiola for Tips Before NBA Finals
Joe Mazzulla, coach of the Boston Celtics, expressed his gratitude for the visit from Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, and said their conversations and advice make each other "better."
"He's a great person. He's a great coach. It's just the humility, the work ethic, the intensity he brings. And we've developed a great relationship," Mazzulla said in a press conference.
"I'm very grateful for him and I'd like to think we make each other better. It's awesome that he was here. It's awesome that he could share some of his wisdom with me and that I could spend time with him," he added.
In another media session, Mazzulla discussed the importance of "spacing" in basketball and mentioned that he had talked about it with the former Barcelona coach.
"That's something Pep has been helping me with: spacing. It's crucial in transitions how you move the players," he explained.
Guardiola attended the first game of these Finals in Boston, where the Celtics convincingly defeated the Dallas Mavericks 107-89.
Besides enjoying the game from a front-row seat, Guardiola, who wore a black and green Celtics jersey for the match, was also seen chatting with Mazzulla on the court at TD Garden.
This visit returned the favor Mazzulla paid in February when he traveled to Manchester (UK) to get a closer look at the team that has been Premier League champions for the past four years.