Celtics/NBA Celtics to suspend coach Ime Udoka for a year, will make Joe Mazzulla interim coach

[sarge88]

Let’s have a press conference to talk about how we can’t talk about anything

But I get it

We're dealing with something at work that is similarly frustrating. We received a threat from a former client --- the state agency who that client is currently involved with told us about the threat but won't/can't? tell us their whereabouts, what the specific threat was, who exactly it was directed at and what they are doing to address it.

So we're stuck sending out a vague email to staff and other clients that sounds totally stupid or makes it look like we're trying to avoid providing information --- but our hands are tied because the state won't give us anything.

 

[Alicat]

There's no way that it would make sense for him to come back

I'm shocked they didn't outright fired because I would have done so especially with "multiple" violations

 

[The National]

The reporters are asking great questions

They brought out the big guns for this one.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

I'm shocked they didn't outright fired because I would have done so especially with "multiple" violations

Because if he's suspended he can't just go get another job somewhere else like he could if he was terminated.

 

[McGarnagle]

Yeah, he's never coming back.

Story keeps evolving from consensual to sending unwanted messages. If Woj actually did his damn research before rushing to beat other reporters to the scoop, it would've saved us so many questions and criticisms of how it was handled. Journalists are the worst.

 

[The National]

I'm shocked they didn't outright fired because I would have done so especially with "multiple" violations

Probably monetary reasons, trying to find cause to fire so they can get relief from contract is my guess.

 

[Gordoff]

Now Brad is basically saying what a great guy Mazzulla has become since his (loosely para-phrasing) "issues in college"

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Ugh, rough.

 

[Midship]

They talked for 30 mins and said very little. Back to speculating, everyone.

 

[Alicat]

Yeah, he's never coming back.

Story keeps evolving from consensual to sending unwanted messages. If Woj actually did his damn research before rushing to beat other reporters to the scoop, it would've saved us so many questions and criticisms of how it was handled. Journalists are the worst.

It should have never be leaked in the first place. Feels like whomever leaked it did so for revenge

 

[Gordoff]

Wyc says suspension comes with a significant financial penalty, and their were multiple violations “at least”.

Hmmm, besides being consensual there must be something along the lines of harassment. This sounds like the beginning of the story, the very tip of the iceberg. They absolutely did not want to drop him IMO but his actions obviously must have been heinous enough to push them over the line.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Now Brad is basically saying what a great guy Mazzulla has become sins his (loosely para-phrasing) "issues in college"

Yeah, if we're being fair it's not the best of looks to replace Udoka for improper treatment of female employees with Mazzulla who has a domestic violence charge for grabbing a woman by the throat in a bar.

 

[The National]

Hmmm, besides being consensual there must be something along the lines of harassment. This sounds like the beginning of the story, the very tip of the iceberg. They absolutely did not want to drop him IMO but his actions must have been heinous enough to push them over the line.

Yeah no way they want to fire/suspend him, they’re finals favorites if there was a way to get around this they would have taken it.

 

[The National]

Womp

 

[EverettMike]

A woman made a serious accusation, the team hired an independent law firm to investigate, then rather than cover up the findings they acted with a severe penalty despite great cost (both in esteem and their chances to succeed on the court) to the team itself.

Isn't this exactly what many of us have wanted to see from organizations in every league?

 

[The National]

A woman made a serious accusation, the team hired an independent law firm to investigate, then rather than cover up the findings they acted with a severe penalty despite great cost (both in esteem and their chances to succeed on the court) to the team itself.

Isn't this exactly what many of us have wanted to see from organizations in every league?

Yeah for sure, they did the right thing just the way and what info came out wasn’t handled great imo.

 

[GatorMike]

I think I might be witnessing Stephen A. Smith lighting his career on fire.

 

[DangleCity]

Yeah, he's never coming back.

Story keeps evolving from consensual to sending unwanted messages. If Woj actually did his damn research before rushing to beat other reporters to the scoop, it would've saved us so many questions and criticisms of how it was handled. Journalists are the worst.

Exactly, this goes beyond a consensual relationship unfortunately. You don't hire big time outside council for simply that

 

[McGarnagle]

Any criticisms we all had the first two days of this story being out there are 100% at the feet of bad rushed journalism. Of course everyone is focused on how awful it was for twitter mobs trying to hunt down this girl and whatnot instead of focusing on the fact that that only happened because Woj misreported a story because he was trying to beat Shams to the scoop. This is all Woj's fault.

Looks like the Celtics handled it properly.

 

[The National]

I think I might be witnessing Stephen A. Smith lighting his career on fire.

Haha he’s invincible

 

[Mione134]

I hope everyone on here knows how CONSENT works. You can be in a consensual relationship, but the minute it crosses the line, that consent can be revoked and recinded. You can be married and still not consent to things. Also, a situation where said woman recinded that consent, and subsequently received unwanted behavior and harassment is also in play here.

Clearly Ime crossed the line. The Celtics did the right thing. And the Anna Horfords and Stephen A's of the world who are making this a racial issue? Embarrassing. And the absolute WRONG take.

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

A woman made a serious accusation, the team hired an independent law firm to investigate, then rather than cover up the findings they acted with a severe penalty despite great cost (both in esteem and their chances to succeed on the court) to the team itself.

Isn't this exactly what many of us have wanted to see from organizations in every league?

Exactly! Plus it being a management employee vs. someone represented by the NBA Players association certainly allowed the Celtics do handle it the way they did (See comparisons to player misconduct earlier in the thread).

 

[CDJ]

Celtics did a great job. Proud of the org. Unacceptable behavior from Ime, I bet he doesn’t coach here again

 

[Fenway]

 

[McGarnagle]

On one hand it's a shame this happened so close to the start of the year so they're missing the opportunity to go through an extensive search for a replacement. But TBQH Mazzulla would've been a leading candidate anyway even if they did have a full offseason. Will Hardy would've been the other guy before Danny poached him to Utah. So in that sense I don't think they're that behind the 8-ball from this.

Biggest question is how will Tatum respond to a new coach after he had his best season under Udoka (especially after facing the criticism he did for his finals performance).