The Boston Celtics have officially hit the road for a chunk of their preseason training camp, heading down to Charleston, South Carolina, at The Citadel. This isn’t just a casual trip, man; it’s the first time in almost ten years this team has taken part of its camp away from home turf. They rolled into Charleston on a rainy Saturday and got right to work at the McAllister Field House Sunday morning. It’s a real shake-up from the usual routine, and you know they’re looking to build something special with this move.
Mazzulla’s ‘Get Away’ Plan & The Coaching Shuffle
Coach Mazzulla isn’t shy about why they’re shaking things up. He said it himself earlier in the week: “It’s really been 10 years since we did it, a bunch of new guys, so just wanted to really take a step back, get away, and vibe with each other in a different environment.” He also noted, “It’s always good to shake it up a little bit.” It totally makes sense. With a bunch of fresh faces, getting out of the usual routine is a smart move to build that chemistry. Camp actually kicked off in Boston last Tuesday, so Charleston is just the next stage.
Payton Pritchard, ever the competitor, gave his take. He’s a big fan of South Carolina golf, no doubt, but for him, the location is secondary. “It’s cool to be down here, but it don’t matter where I’m at,” Pritchard stated. “The mindset’s the mindset, so we could be in the mountains, desert , don’t matter. It’s never changed.” That’s the kind of locked-in mentality you love to see, right?
But it’s not just the scenery that’s changing. While the main coaching staff is still intact, a lot of players are getting fresh eyes on their development. Mike Conley and Payton Pritchard, for example, are now working with God Shamgod Jr., who was key to Jaylen Brown’s player development last season. Paul George has linked up with Amile Jefferson, who was helping Nikola Vucevic last year. And Mitchell Robinson is getting guidance from Nana Foulland, who last season worked with John Tonje. It’s a fresh slate for a lot of guys, even if the team’s core coaches are the same. Not everyone’s switching it up, though. Jayson Tatum is sticking with his longtime assistant coach Tony Dobbins, who was a huge part of his recovery from that Achilles tendon rupture last season. You can’t argue with that continuity for a superstar.
Rookies Getting Their Feet Wet, Walsh Gunning for More
Even the younger guys and new additions are getting specialized attention. Craig Luschenat, the head of player development, has taken on rookies Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell. He worked with Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman last year, so he knows how to get new guys up to speed. Speaking of Scheierman, he’s now working with assistant coach Tyler Lashbrook, alongside Hugo Gonzalez. Lashbrook was actually a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers head coach gig, so he brings some serious insight to the court.
Then there’s Jordan Walsh, heading into his fourth season and clearly feeling way more comfortable in the system. Last season was massive for him. He not only broke into the rotation but established himself as an elite defender, even starting 25 games! That’s a serious jump, and you know he’s looking to build on that momentum heading into this year.
With camp continuing in Charleston, the team is clearly focused on building that cohesion and sharpening individual skills before the real games begin. Every rep, every new coaching connection, every moment away from the daily grind is about forging a team ready to hit the ground running when the regular season tips off. What kind of “vibe” they bring back to Boston will tell the tale.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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