Celtics' Latest Playoff Collapse Exposes Fatal Strategic Flaw

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On paper, the Boston Celtics should've beaten the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics outscored them by 20 points over the course of their seven series, outrebounded them by 40 and recorded more assists, steals and blocks. 

So why didn't they? The simple answer is that Boston was much less efficient on offense, finishing with a worse field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage. That's largely because they took and missed far too many 3-pointers, especially over the final three games when they went just 36-for-129 (27.9 percent) from beyond the arc. 

Boston missed a staggering 93 threes in those three games combined, including 36 in their Game 7 loss. The Celtics bricked 24 in the second half alone, going 6-for-30 from downtown after halftime and 2-for-13 in the fourth quarter. 

They weren't shooting the ball well, but as usual, they didn't adjust. They doubled down on threes, and in the end, it cost them the game and ended their season.

"They just did not adjust. You're trailing by a point with 3:49 left, you shoot 7 threes and you miss all of them! Adjust!"@colincowherd argues the Celtics' formula led to them blowing a 3-1 lead and losing to the 76ers pic.twitter.com/kCUnlVEMy4— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 4, 2026

"They just did not adjust," Colin Cowherd said on Monday's episode of "The Herd." You're trailing by a point with 3:49 left, you shoot seven threes and you miss all of them! Adjust!"

Boston has lived and died by the three during its four years under Joe Mazzulla. That strategy helped carry them to a championship in 2024, but in the other three years, it led to early playoff exits in series where Mazzulla's team was heavily favored.

The Celtics should have learned their lesson last year after losing to the New York Knicks in similar fashion. Instead, they kept making the same mistakes, and that's why they got the same result.

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