The Celtics coach’s epic reaction to the game winner

After the Boston Celtics won Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat on a winning tip from Derrick White at the buzzer, Joe Mazzulla was asked by NBA reporters what was going through his mind during White’s stellar play.

Surprisingly, the Celtics coach did not react emotionally.

“Nothing. Game 7,” said Mazzulla.

The Celtics are aiming to become the first team in NBA history to win a playoff series after trailing 3-0. While Boston has momentum in the series, Mazzulla says the team can’t relax.

“I mean, there’s no guarantee,” Mazzulla said. “We just need to understand why we’re still alive. The mindset does not change. I just can’t relax.”

NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Derrick White, Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics & Miami Heat Updates

Game 7 is in Boston at the TD Garden. The Celtics lost Games 1 and 2 of this series at home, but won Game 5. Mazzulla believes his team is one of the best locker rooms he’s ever been a part of.

“Yeah, they’re just springy,” Mazzulla said. “I’ve been saying it all year: this is one of the best dressing rooms I’ve ever been a part of. It starts with them. They have a togetherness. They have a connection. In their toughest moments they stick together and that they have been doing it for a long time so credit to them.

“Faith, love, togetherness, physicality, faith, hope, all those things combined. But it starts with the locker room. Those guys had to make a choice and they chose to believe in each other.”

NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Derrick White, Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics & Miami Heat Updates

At the end of his Game 6 postgame press conference, Mazzulla was asked about Al Horford and Robert Williams and the 34-year-old didn’t mince words about his two big men.

“Those two guys probably don’t get enough credit,” said Mazzulla. “They’re just staples for us on both ends of the floor. If they play with a level of physicality and presence for us, we’re a different team. There are some guys on our team who have different gifts that they bring to the table outside of basketball and Al and Rob are two guys who bring a sense of joy and just bring a sense of stability. We really depend on them for that.”

The winner of the Eastern Conference Finals will face the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.

Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news and insider information? Click here. Follow up on NBA Analysis Network Twitter And Facebook.