The Boston Celtics’ playoff loss to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals can be attributed to two main factors: the Celtics’ defensive decline and a lack of a reliable offensive strategy when Mazzulla ball’s trademark 3-point shooting didn’t work.
Last year, Boston was known for its exceptional defense under former head coach Ime Udoka, but this season it was merely a good defensive team under coach Joe Mazzulla. The offense was prone to dysfunction when challenged. As a result, it couldn’t allow the Celtics to be just a good defensive team. They also allowed Miami to get comfortable on both ends, ultimately dooming them when key players got hurt.
Who is to blame for all of the above? Mazzulla? Udoka? Team president Brad Stevens? The players? Or some combination of the above?
Check out the clip embedded above to hear the thoughts of the eponymous host of the Volume “Hoops Tonight with Jason Timpf” podcast.
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
