"I have to be better"- Joe Mazzulla says he has lost the Celtics locker room after Game 3 loss
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was fairly clear in his mind regarding who was at fault for the team's blowout loss in Game 3. While speaking to the media, Mazzulla expressed that he believed he'd lost the team in the locker room.
Since securing the second-seed in the East, Mazzulla and Boston have scratched and clawed their way into the ECF. However, with yet another loss in the series, they find themselves facing a 3-0 deficit.
The Celtics' coach was asked about his thoughts on the loss during the postgame interview. Mazzulla was quite candid in expressing that the team's defensive identity was lost and there was a very real disconnect in the team.
When asked to address this disconnect, specifically between him and the players, he said:
(Watch Mazzulla's comments from 5:45 onwards)
"Yeah, there's where I have to be better to figure out what this team needs to make sure they're connected, they're physical and they're together by the time we step on the floor."
Joe Mazzulla was immediately pushed into the deep end this season. After being with the team through last year's run in the capacity of an assistant coach, Mazzulla found himself being promoted in the offseason.
While Mazzulla's promotion was not solely based on merit, it came about due to the upheaval caused by the Ime Udoka situation in the offseason. The Celtics had to make significant changes, leading to the appointment of a new coaching regime. Mazzulla performed well during the regular season, but it became evident that the team's identity under Udoka differed from the one under their new head coach.
Needless to say, for his failures with the team, Mazzulla has also drawn the ire of fans around the world.
Can the Boston Celtics avoid a sweep?
The Boston Celtics find themselves on the verge of a very unlikely situation heading into Game 4.
With an imminent sweep on the horizon, the Celtics will have to band together if they hope to avoid such an embarrassment.
To avoid such an embarrassing outcome, the team must rally together and execute their defensive schemes effectively. Led by Marcus Smart, the Celtics have been known for their solid defensive play throughout the season, and maintaining this identity will be crucial to securing a win.
However, doing so on the road is also a challenge in its own right. With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown also struggling offensively, Boston may have simply exhausted all their resources.