"The best coach at any level": Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised Manchester City manager

Joe Mazzulla has found a lot of success over the last year and a half as head coach of the Boston Celtics. His team is currently poised to possibly go all the way to the NBA Finals and they have the best record in the NBA. But even though some call him the best coach in the league, he feels there is another sports icon who is the greatest at leading a team.

Mazzulla is a devoted fan of Manchester City and believes that their manager, Pep Guardiola, is the best of the best. He sees a lot of value in studying the way that the City figure leads his team.

"That is what the game of basketball is about, to me, and what counterattacking in soccer is about," Mazzulla told The Athletic. "So, I study a lot of Man City. I study Pep a lot. I think he's the best coach at any level, in any sport. It's had a huge influence [on me]."

One of the best things that Mazzulla has learned from Guardiola is that every aspect of the game is tied together. It's not just about offense and defense, as both ends of the court are connected in some very crucial ways.

"Everybody tries to break basketball up into offense and defense, but it's one game," Mazzulla said. "If your transition defense sucks, everybody talks about your transition defense. But it's your spacing and your decision-making and your shot selection, then it's your transition defense."

He added that both basketball and soccer are closely related because the ability to capitalize on the transition from offense to defense is so important.

The Celtics are the team to beat in the league right now and there are many predicting they could go all the way this year. Since taking over the Celtics last year, Mazzulla has earned a 57-45 record as the head coach of the team.