The Boston Celtics' season came to a stunning halt Saturday night as they dropped Game 7 to the Philadelphia 76ers, squandering a commanding 3-1 series lead. For a team that entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed and fought through injuries to stars like Jayson Tatum, the early exit has left fans furious—and much of that anger is directed squarely at head coach Joe Mazzulla.
Social media erupted almost immediately after the final buzzer, with Celtics supporters calling for Mazzulla's job. The criticism centered on his handling of the starting lineup without Tatum and questionable rotation decisions that left many scratching their heads. "Fire Joe Mazzulla as soon as the buzzer sounds," one fan posted on X, echoing a sentiment that spread like wildfire across the platform. Another fan wrote, "Terrible rotations and so much shooting 3s—no one attacking the paint no more."
Matt McCarthy of 98.5 The Sports Hub even joked, "If Mazzulla isn't fired by midnight, we riot." The frustration was palpable, with many pointing to the series' collapse as a coaching failure. "Out-coached by Nick Nurse. What an embarrassment," one fan wrote, comparing Mazzulla to the 76ers' veteran head coach.
To be fair, not every loss falls on the sideline. Players missed shots, and injuries played a role. But when you hold a 3-1 lead against a 76ers squad that didn't have Joel Embiid until Game 4, expectations are high. For a team with championship aspirations, blowing that advantage stings deeply.
Mazzulla, now in his fourth season as head coach, has led the Celtics to one NBA title and has a respectable playoff resume—including a Conference Finals appearance in his first year and a second-round exit last season. But in the high-stakes world of professional basketball, recent memory often outweighs past success. The question now is whether ownership will pin this collapse on Mazzulla or look to other factors.
As the offseason begins, all eyes will be on Boston's front office. Someone will have to answer for this shocking end to a promising season. For fans already dreaming of next year, the call for change is loud and clear.