The Boston Celtics’ playoff loss to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals can be attributed to two main factors: the Celtics’ defensive decline and a lack of a reliable offensive strategy when Mazzulla ball’s trademark 3-point shooting didn’t work.
Last year, Boston was known for its exceptional defense under former head coach Ime Udoka, but this season it was merely a good defensive team under coach Joe Mazzulla. The offense was prone to dysfunction when challenged. As a result, it couldn’t allow the Celtics to be just a good defensive team. They also allowed Miami to get comfortable on both ends, ultimately dooming them when key players got hurt.
