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National Basketball Association – Sixers v Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum 0 Celtics during the National Basketball Association playoff game between Philadelphia Sixers and Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, USA Georgia Soares / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xGeorgiaxSoaresx/xSPPx georgia_soares_sports_press_photo_178638
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National Basketball Association – Sixers v Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum 0 Celtics during the National Basketball Association playoff game between Philadelphia Sixers and Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, USA Georgia Soares / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xGeorgiaxSoaresx/xSPPx georgia_soares_sports_press_photo_178638
The last two seasons have been disappointing for the Boston Celtics. They lost the 2022 Championship Title to the Golden State Warriors. Their most recent defeat came when the underdogs Miami Heat defeated them in the Eastern Conference Finals. In their 75 years of existence, the Celtics have experienced a great deal of success, winning the Larry O’Brien trophy 17 times in their 22 Final appearances. Despite their achievements, 15 years have passed since they were last crowned champions. In the wake of their defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum blames the team’s roster for the failure.
Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have a long history of rivalry, having met at the Conference Finals four times. In the 2022-23 season, the two teams faced each other again. It culminated in Heats winning Game 7 and entering the finals to face the Denver Nuggets.
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Jayson Tatum blames the roster for Game 7 loss
That year was Joe Mazzulla’s first season as the head coach for the Celtics after the suspension of Ime Udoka. At just 34 years old, he became the youngest coach in the NBA. As a result, he faced a lot of scrutiny for his game management.
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USA Today via Reuters
May 25, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla during the first quarter of game five against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Addressing the criticisms directed towards Joe Mazzulla for their upset in Game 7, Jayson Tatum told The Messenger, ?I think it was unfair. I don?t know what more Joe could have done.?
Tatum continues, ?He wasn?t out there turning the ball over and missing free throws. That was us.?
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Was it Joe Mazzulla’s fault?
Boston Celtics fans have been waiting for the franchise to win its 18th world championship, which has eluded the Celtics for 15 years. Following the loss, fans and pundits criticised Joe Mazzulla’s coaching, particularly his refusal to call timeouts. He was compared to Miami Heat‘s head coach Erik Spoelstra, who many felt ‘out-coached’ him. Many people noted that Spoelstra seemed to get the best performance out of his players. On the other hand, Mazzulla was criticized for not being able to devise a reliable rotation to get the team back on track.
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USA Today via Reuters
Apr 15, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots a layup against the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter of game one of the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
However, it was not all Joe Mazzulla’s fault, since the players in the team were struggling to score. Erik Spoelstra himself was severely criticized when he first started, with people saying he was “past his bedtime”. Sympathizing with the rookie coach, Spoelstra told Sports Illustrated, “I think he?s done a great job. I?ve gotten to know Joe a little bit over the years. He?s a sharp guy. His care factor is through the roof. His maturity is beyond his years. He knows what?s important to this organization and he has a lot of experience with these guys. He?s earned their trust.”
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Watch This Story: Despite Massive Deals for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Major FIBA World Cup Update for NBA All-Star Might Worry the Celtics
With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown coming together again this year, do you think the Boston Celtics have a shot at Banner 18?
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