Magic Fire Head Coach After 3-1 Collapse; Is Celtics' Joe Mazzulla Next?
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Magic Fire Head Coach After 3-1 Collapse; Is Celtics' Joe Mazzulla Next? originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 lead to the Philadelphia 76ers and got bounced in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The Celtics played Game 7 without Jayson Tatum and were unable to get the job done. Joe Mazzulla has taken on heavy criticism for his decision-making in the game. Many fans want him gone, and he should be worried about getting fired. The Orlando Magic also blew a 3-1 lead in the first round and fired Jamahl Mosley on Monday.
Mazzulla, unlike Mosley, has an NBA championship on his head coaching resume. However, Mazzulla's collapse in the first round this year came as the No. 2 seed. The Magic were the No. 8 seed, carrying fewer expectations. They still decided to fire their coach. Mosley had been the Magic head coach since the 2021-2022 season.
He helped lead the Magic to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, but never won a playoff series. The Magic lost in Game 7 in the first round twice under Mosley.
Mazzulla's situation is quite different. However, the expectation that the Celtics carry comes with more pressure and less room for error. The Celtics have one of the best rosters in basketball, headlined by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. One could argue that the Celtics overachieved this season since Tatum missed most of the season.
However, the decisions Mazzulla made in Game 7 ultimately played a huge role in the Celtics' being eliminated. If a team like the Magic can fire its coach after carrying few expectations, then Mazzulla needs to worry about what an organization like the Celtics may do. Mazzulla's championship will perhaps buy him another year, but nothing is guaranteed.
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