The room is packed, like a college bar on $5 pitcher night that doesn't charge cover or give a damn about fire codes.

Freed from his press conference, Joe Mazzulla joins the party. He's dry — for now — and well-prepared.

Goggles strapped tight to his face, Mazzulla stops for a brief interview with longtime NBA reporter Rachel Nichols. Mazzulla's young son stands in front of him, and once the interview is over, beer rains down on the little boy. Mazzulla holds his son from behind, a hand on each shoulder, then bends at the waist and cranes his neck to see if he's OK.

All smiles.

Kristaps Porzingis swings through the back side, conductor of the crowd. He dances with a Miller Lite in one hand, then points to a friend, who breaks down himself. From a distance, a member of the Celtics' PR team points at Porzingis, indicating it's time for his press conference.

Porzingis wags a finger back: no.

So Brown is next. But it takes an NBA communications staffer three attempts to pull him from the party. Between tries, Brown daps people up, stops for a picture, extends for a hug and stares into someone's phone. It could be for a photo or FaceTime or livestream.

Again, who knows. Who cares?

Brown still holds his MVP trophy close, and takes his exit.

Enter Charles Lee. Boston's top assistant, and soon-to-be Hornets head coach, raises a championship wrestling belt bearing the Celtics logo high above his head with one arm. He lets out a scream, primal and victorious, as beer sprays from a shaken can a few yards away.

...continued

©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at bostonherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.