The Boston Celtics need to turn things around and hit the road with a focused approach if they want to stand a chance against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Joe Mazzulla’s coaching down the stretch has been a bit of an issue, especially in the playoffs, and it might as well be the defining factor in this series.
That’s why NBA analyst Shams Charania believes people haven’t talked enough about the fact that the Celtics have a rookie coach, and that could obviously backfire at some point.
.@ShamsCharania: “Is this a factor? The aspect of [The Celtics] having a rookie head coach – It’s a massive change that I think has probably gone under-talked about this year”@ChandlerParsons: “We’re talking about Tatum going 11/27… That’s not the coaches fault” 😬#RunItBack pic.twitter.com/69Z3sR6j42
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) May 10, 2023
Former NBA player Chandler Parsons, however, doesn’t seem to agree with Charania’s assessment.
Per Parsons, Mazzulla has absolutely nothing to do with Jayson Tatum going 11-for-27 from the field, and that could be a bit of a valid point.
Also, let’s not ignore the fact that this Celtics team made it to the NBA Finals with a rookie coach last season, with Ime Udoka leading the way and turning them into a defensive force in the second half of the season.
There are plenty of factors that have contributed to the Celtics underperforming in the playoffs, and it’s true that Mazzulla’s decision-making has left some things to be desired at times.
But the players also need to put in a consistent effort, and this wouldn’t be the first time that people point the finger at Tatum for not living up to the expectations in the postseason.
Also, props to Doc Rivers and the Sixers for making timely and sound adjustments to get back on top in this series against all odds.
NEXT: Celtics Fans Were Not Happy With Team In Game 5 Loss
