Celtics HC Mazzulla 'Excited to Have Some Conflict and Controversy' in Loss vs. Hawks

Life figured to be relatively easy for the Boston Celtics this season after winning last year's NBA title and bringing back the majority of their important contributors, but that hasn't always been the case.

And head coach Joe Mazzulla doesn't necessarily mind.

Mazzulla said he is "excited to have some conflict and controversy" following Saturday's 119-115 overtime loss to Atlanta Hawks, per Jay King of The Athletic.

It seemed like Boston would find the win column at times Saturday, including when Jayson Tatum went to the free-throw line with a one-point lead and seven seconds remaining. However, he made one of two, and Trae Young hit two free throws on the other end to tie the score.

Tatum then missed his potential game-winner, and the Hawks made enough plays in overtime to drop the Celtics to 29-13.

While the overall record is still impressive, the reigning champions are just 8-8 in the last 16 games and have been dealing with some consistency issues of late. Included in that stretch was a 13-point loss to a 10-32 Toronto Raptors team, underscoring Boston's struggles to play up to its potential.

It should be noted Kristaps Porziņģis has played just 18 games this season, although he was limited to just seven games during the team's postseason run to the championship. The team is accustomed to winning without him and still has enough talent to compete for another championship.

But it might have to go on the road in key moments of the playoffs if things don't turn around in the near future.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 6.5 games ahead of second-seeded Boston in the race for the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed. In fact, the Celtics are closer to the third-seeded New York Knicks (nine games back of Cleveland), fourth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks (11.5 games back) and fifth-seeded Indiana Pacers (12 games back) in the standings.

Remaining in the No. 2 seed seems like a reasonable goal to set up a more favorable path in the playoffs and home-court advantage against everyone in the conference but Cleveland, but it will take better play than the Celtics have enjoyed of late.

At least Mazzulla believes it will be enjoyable trying to break out of the slump while doing so.