The Boston Celtics made the NBA Finals this year despite a lot of doubters saying that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown wouldn’t be able to get the job done.

Specifically, many wondered if the pair had a strong enough relationship to withstand the rigors of the playoffs.

This week, with the NBA Finals approaching, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla addressed the topic of whether Tatum and Brown are currently or have ever had any sort of issues.

“It’s a really good question… The whole thing about that really pisses me off and I think it’s unfair to both of them,” he said.

“I think it’s stupid that people have to use those two guys’ names… so they can remain relevant. It’s very unfair those two get compared. They’re two completely different people, completely different players, completely different teammates, they love each other, and they go about winning and they go about their process in a different way.”

Mazzulla didn’t stop there, though.

“So why do they have to always be lumped together?” he continued.

“I think it’s unfair and people just use it for their own relativity. At the end of the day, those two guys, their relationship is their relationship, they love each other, they push each other every day in practice, they communicate with each other but they go about winning differently…”

Mazzulla then noted that Tatum and Brown are treated very differently compared to other dominant duos in the NBA.

“You see other duos around the league don’t have to go through that,” he continued.

“It’s because of the platform that they have, it’s because they’ve been so successful their entire careers, they’ve been able to longstanding success at a high, high level. So people need them in order to stay relevant.

“And they should not talk on speculation and they should get to know them as people before they talk about that stuff. They’re two of the greatest teammates and players that you could have and it’s been an honor to coach both of them. Doesn’t mean they have to be the same. It’s bullsh*t. I love both of them and they deserve better.”

Quite the rant, obviously.

Mazzulla’s frustration is understandable, but so are the questions regarding Tatum and Brown. Where there is smoke, there is usually fire. And there is a reason smoke exists here.

Will Mazzulla, Tatum and Brown be able to drown out the noise and win an NBA championship this year? Time will tell.