Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has a lot of ideas when it comes to changing or increasing the level of entertainment of the NBA.
First it was a ‘legal fight’ between players on the NBA court, now it is on the psychological aspect of the game.
The enigmatic Celtics coach suggested that the league could use some soccer rules to make the game more entertaining now that it is holding an in-season tournament, known as the Emirates NBA Cup.
“I’m sure every sport wants a version of another sport, but I think it’s really cool in soccer and even basketball overseas where you’re playing in three leagues at the same time,” Mazzulla said during an appearance at the Zolak & Bertrand show.
“Like, Tuesday is a Cup game but Saturday might be a domestic league game. That shift in psychology and balancing all that is really fun.”
Just a few weeks ago, Mazzulla made headlines for suggesting that the league should allow players – who should be noted are of different sizes – to fight on the court just like in the National Hockey League. The suggestion was met by opposing reactions because they believe it would only put players at risk.
His latest suggestion appears to be more for the welfare of the players.
Joe Mazzulla’s FA Cup model for the NBA and its benefits
Aside from another competition to insert in a very long season, Mazzulla believes some superstars can use some rest whenever smaller tournament is in the schedule.
“It’s always cool studying the games. You’ll see sometimes (with the) FA Cup or Carabao Cup, it’s like, you still want to win it. Sometimes the superstars do rest, and to me it validates your team, your bench, your roster, it validates that even more,” he explained.
He also talked about the loan system that will be beneficial to players still trying to make the roster.
“I mean, you get a player on loan — because it prevents situations where you have to put a guy into a trade that you still kind of believe in, but you have to do it. You could loan him.”
Right now, the NBA is stuck with an in-season tournament which was a hit from last season.
Celtics has a job to do in winning its first NBA Cup as they lost their first assignment against the Atlanta Hawks.
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