The Boston Celtics' season came to a heartbreaking end in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, falling 109-100 at TD Garden. While the box score will point to their ice-cold 26.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc, there was much more to this stunning collapse than just missed threes.

Let's face it—the Celtics had open looks. Plenty of them. Down the stretch, shot after shot looked good leaving their hands, but the basketball gods simply weren't cooperating. However, here's the twist: Boston actually made two more three-pointers than Philadelphia (13-11), and they entered the night 0-2 in the series when losing the battle from deep. So maybe the narrative isn't as simple as it seems.

"People didn't say that when we had a 3-1 lead," guard Payton Pritchard fired back when asked if the team relied too heavily on outside shooting. "We had good looks, and if we hit them, then nobody says anything. That's the end of the story. You just got to make them."

Fair point, Pritchard. So let's dig deeper into what really went wrong for Boston in this winner-take-all showdown.

After squandering Game 5 at home and Game 6 on the road, head coach Joe Mazzulla knew he had to shake things up. But the decision was made easier—and more complicated—when star forward Jayson Tatum was ruled out just hours before tipoff with left knee stiffness. "He came in today with knee discomfort," Mazzulla explained, describing Tatum as "day-to-day."

What followed was a starting lineup that left the TD Garden crowd scratching their heads. Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, and Ron Harper Jr.—three players who had never started a playoff game together—joined usual starters Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. It was a gamble born from desperation, and unfortunately, it backfired immediately. The Celtics dug themselves a 9-0 hole before the game even found its rhythm, and they never quite recovered.

For a team that once held a commanding 3-1 series lead, the collapse raises tough questions about depth, adjustments, and execution when the pressure peaks. As the Celtics head into an offseason of reflection, one thing is clear: in the playoffs, good looks aren't enough. You have to make them count—especially when the season is on the line.