Joe Mazzulla: I Just Didn’t Have Celtics Ready To Play Game 3

Joe Mazzulla took blame for the Boston Celtics’ blowout loss to the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

“I just didn’t have them ready to play,” Mazzulla said. “I have to get them in a better place to be ready to play, and that’s on me.”

The Celtics struggled with their three-point shooting in the game, but they’ve also more broadly taken a step back on defense this season.

The Celtics went from second in the NBA in defensive rating during the regular season to 10th in the playoffs.

“Yeah, I think some of that defensive identity has been lost,” Mazzulla said, “and we have to get that back.”