How Does the Ime Udoka Suspension Impact the Boston Celtics?

On September 22nd, we learned that Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was suspended for the 2022-23 season. The decision was made after news surfaced that Udoka had been involved in an intimate relationship with a member of his staff. He released a statement on Thursday night apologizing to the organization and the fans, and saying that he accepts the teams decision. In his first season as the head coach, he led the team to a 51-31 record, and a finals appearance. He was only the 5th coach in the last 25 years to make the finals in his first year.

So what does Udoka's suspension mean for the Celtics success? Last season, the Celtics were the 2nd rated defensive team, and the 7th rated offensive team according to advanced stats. The defense shouldn't take much of a hit as Marcus Smart and Robert Williams are still on the roster, but the offense is likely to have some struggles. Udoka ran a slow offense that focused on ball movement, running plays, and waiting for open shot opportunities. The team ranked 24th in pace, despite having a high scoring efficient offense. Interim head coach Joe Mazulla is unlikely to adopt Udoka's gameplan, and will most likely put a larger focus on isolation opportunities with their stars. Tatum and Brown will both get stat boosts from this, but the teams success will be at risk. Overall, the Celtics will still be one of the best defensive teams in the league, but their offense will struggle and it's unlikely we'll see them in the NBA finals next summer.