Joe Mazzulla has just been named the Sporting News NBA Coach of the Year, an honor voted on by his peers across the league. It's a testament to his leadership of a Boston Celtics team that has dominated the regular season, but it's an award the intensely focused coach would likely prefer to trade for the ultimate prize still ahead.

Taking over just before training camp last season, Mazzulla has rapidly molded the Celtics into a juggernaut. His system has masterfully balanced an elite, unselfish offense with a switch-everything defense, maximizing the talents of stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown while integrating key new additions. The result has been the league's best record and a consistent dominance that few teams have matched.

In the high-stakes world of Boston sports, regular-season accolades are often seen as mere stepping stones. For Mazzulla and the Celtics, the true measure of this season's success will be written in the playoffs. This award recognizes the exceptional foundation he has built, but the entire organization is locked in on the final goal: bringing championship banner 18 to the TD Garden rafters.