Celtics 76ers – Bill Simmons says the Celtics’ first-round collapse vs. the 76ers reflects coaching missteps, despite a strong regular season.
A stunning first-round collapse turned the Celtics’ season-ending loss to the 76ers into a public referendum on coaching choices, and Bill Simmons did not hold back.
With Boston holding a 3-1 series advantage. the Celtics dropped the next three games and were eliminated after Game 7 at TD Garden. leaving Simmons and many Celtics fans scrambling for answers.. On Misryoum. Simmons framed the outcome as a mix of factors: Philly’s execution. and Boston’s inability to adjust when it mattered most. especially once the postseason tightened.
Simmons argued that Joe Mazzulla’s approach shifted in a way that did not match what had worked for Boston over the long run. pointing to lineup decisions and a perceived lack of tactical evolution.. He said he believed Mazzulla’s regular-season performance deserved major praise. even voting for him for Coach of the Year. before questioning what changed once the Celtics faced real playoff pressure.
Insight: This kind of postseason scrutiny often reshapes how fans and teams evaluate a coach, because late-series decisions become the clearest “tell” of whether a plan can survive adaptation.
In Simmons’ assessment. Boston appeared to lean back into a familiar style rather than building on its advantages during the series.. He criticized the Celtics’ pace and their reliance on their preferred 3-point identity. arguing the team did not fully make use of its depth once circumstances demanded something different.
He also took issue with the Game 7 starting lineup that included players who. as Simmons noted. had not shared the floor together during the regular season.. After the Celtics fell behind early. the game plan around that unit unraveled quickly. a move Simmons described as representative of broader problems with adjustments and rotation management.
Insight: When a playoff rotation is altered late, it can change team rhythm and defensive assignments instantly, which is why even small strategic calls can snowball into outsized consequences.
Simmons suggested the series may have been treated like a test of future matchups rather than a recalibration of what the Celtics needed against Philadelphia. adding that the Celtics’ bench had been one of their strengths earlier in the season.. In his view, Boston “punting” on that advantage left it with fewer tools when the 76ers pushed back.
The takeaway from Misryoum’s coverage of Simmons’ reaction is less about one game and more about what it signals: after a commanding lead, Boston’s inability to adjust became the defining story of the series.
Insight: For teams with championship aspirations, these are the moments that tighten the margin between “season success” and “postseason failure,” and they often trigger immediate internal reevaluations.