A Joe Mazzulla press conference always keeps you on your toes.

Before the Celtics’ NBA Cup game Tuesday night against the undefeated 15-0 Cleveland Cavaliers, Mazzulla was asked a simple question. Why does the NBA Cup matter?

Mazzulla’s quick-witted, serious answer brought laughter to the room as he often does when addressing the media through his patented unconventional statements.

“Who said that?” Mazzulla responded, poking a bit of fun at the question.

Then, the question was framed differently to Mazzulla. Does the NBA Cup matter?

He went on to discuss how the Cup games provide something to play for and gives his team an opportunity to win, which they already do so much of.

“It presents an opportunity for us to go after something, to win something,” Mazzulla said after the joke. “To me, over the course of a long season it presents something good that can come from it. If you lose, you’re pissed off because you didn’t achieve your goal of winning and if you win, you achieve your goal of winning. It’s a win-win over the course of a long season for us.”

Boston (11-3) came out strong in the first half against Cleveland. The Celtics are 0-1 in NBA Cup play, hoping to position themselves to make it into the knockout round.

Never change, Joe.