Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has sat in on defensive meetings for the New England Patriots, and he is taking a page out of their strategy playbook, as he looks to defend his NBA title with the Boston Celtics.

He’s consumed with his players having a different mental and physical approach to this season because they are no longer chasing but being chased.

Mazzulla knows this breakneck practice pace might not be enjoyable for his players, but he’s been pleased with their buy-in thus far. The Celtics returned nearly their entire roster this offseason, so the vast majority of their current players are familiar with Mazzulla’s methods.

Joe Mazzulla said he learned a lot from sitting in on Patriots defensive meetings with New England coach Jerod Mayo

The Celtics are attempting to become the first team to win back-to-back NBA championships since the Warriors in 2017-18.

Despite leading the Celtics to an 18th championship, Joe Mazzulla explained why he didn't enjoy Boston's offseason.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the conversation around them during last season, and after its triumphant conclusion. There’s a sort of collective cognitive dissonance of punditry when the Cs are brought up.