Joe Mazzulla may be the Coach of the Year and may think that is a “stupid” award, but that’s exactly what his own fanbase cannot stop calling him today. His adjustments just ain’t working. For the second game in a row, the Boston Celtics have failed to close out a rather straightforward series and now face a do-or-die Game 7. After scoring only 11 points in the fourth quarter on Tuesday, Boston tallied only 14 in the third last night, prompting the head coach to bench his star players before the final frame. Even though he made sure to justify his decision after the game, it did not sit well with the fans.

With 10:23 remaining in regulation, the Beantown fell behind by 23 points in the last quarter against the Sixers. So, Mazzulla tried using his logic and pulled the plug. With no Jayson Tatum and no Jaylen Brown, the team had Luka Garza, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr, and Payton Pritchard taking the floor. CelticsBlogs reporter Noa Dalzell publicly explained that this was a “wave the white flag” move by the coach. But why’s that?

The head coach, after the 106-93 loss, explained his thought process. “Wanted to give the game a different feel,” Mazzulla said. “I mean, all year we’ve had 14-15 guys be able to impact winning. Just wanted to give the game a different look.” It seemed Mazzulla’s move was the right one for a while… because the Boston reserves played with some spark when they entered the game, putting together an 11-0 run. But that wasn’t enough to make a dent, given the poor performance in the third quarter. It ultimately led to Boston being held below 100 points for the second straight game and the third in the series (all losses).

They again struggled with their shooting, making 42% on the night, and made 29% from the 3-point line. None of the starters had a positive +/-. In fact, none of them could cross the 20-point mark in the crucial encounter. The changes only took place when Mazzulla’s team was down by double digits. When probing into whether he considered bringing the Jays back into the game, the Celtics coach appeared clear in his thought process.

“I was just kind of seeing where the game was at,” Mazzulla said. “Felt like we had a run in us, that lineup was giving the game a different feel, so I kind of liked where we were at that time.” Even Brown commended the bench group’s effort and took responsibility. “They just played harder,” the Celtics’ major attacking threat said. “That group came out, was able to cut into their lead because they played harder. The group before that, we didn’t play hard enough.”

But it was too difficult for the reserves to pull back. From the beginning, the 76ers dominated at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, and they built an early 11-4 lead on the play of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George. The Sixers had a 12-point lead at halftime. In the third frame, the Boston starters scored just 14 and shot 26 percent from the field and 15 percent from 3-point range, going a dismal 2-of-13 from beyond the arc.

That’s why the fans wanted changes, but removing all their starters wasn’t what anybody expected… Only 13 teams have ever come back from 3-1 down. The Celtics pride themselves on being a franchise too good to let something like that happen. But this nothing-to-lose move is nothing more than a gamble. That’s simply because Embiid has woven himself back into Philly’s fabric after requiring an emergency appendectomy, scoring 33 points in Game 5 and a near triple-double last night across 34 minutes. Usually known for his unforgiving training camp routines, has Mazzulla left too much for too late this time?

Joe Mazzulla’s tactics were disastrously eye-opening, and fans call out his overconfidence…

Again, Philadelphia didn’t have the best night shooting. 44% from the field and 33% from three-point range are not elite numbers, but they were enough to put pressure on Joe Mazzulla. A massive edge the Celtics held over their competition all season was their depth. But in the playoffs, the head coach has stubbornly stuck with his starters even when they’re not working! And then we saw him do a random 360. That’s why a fan questioned Mazzulla’s answer after the game.

“I’m a Joe guy but I gotta call him on this B.S. You look like you gambling and the casino man. We needed a different look since the 2nd quarter, not 5 minutes left in the 4th in a blowout,” a fan wrote.

Another netizen was furious over the head coach’s comments and even demanded that he be fired. “This quote has made me even more pissed off FIRE THIS GUY NOW.” This will be harsh because, against all odds, the Celtics were the #2 from the East. It was all because of his constant tinkering with the rotation, experimenting with different styles and lineup combinations. Without Jayson Tatum for the most part, he needed Payton Pritchard to stand up. However, the suddenness of his tactical shift has angered fans. The post-season is a set-and-forget strategy for many…

“He’s hilarious. Develop players all year and throw them in during garbage time for a “different look” They should be replacing guys who have struggled for 6 games,” a netizen commented, with another comment reading, “Bro this guy is making these adjustments with a game 7 on the line lmao what in the hell.” This was just another game where Joe Mazzulla didn’t make the right change until the very end.

On Tuesday, with Pritchard on the floor, Boston was outscoring their opponents by eight points in his 27 minutes. But in the final frame of Game 5, Pritchard was pulled with eight minutes left, and the entire starting five was brought back into the game. By the time Joe Mazzulla turned back to him with four minutes left, Boston was down by double digits. That’s why a fan added, “A Lil late pal. Try using your bench through out the game. U need defense.”

Now, Mazzula’s decision to rest the starters can also stem from Jayson Tatum’s injury in the third frame. Tatum wore protection around his left leg, not the same leg he tore his Achilles on during last year’s playoffs. “My leg was just a little stiff when I came out in the third quarter. But just kind of assessing the moment, like, the game was a little out of reach. We took the starters out,” said Tatum. For now, he expects to play in Game 7 and “wasn’t overly concerned” about his left leg. Even Jaylen Brown spoke with a similar mindset. Game 7 will be at TD Garden on May 2.

Again, despite the game being at home, it will be a challenge for Mazzulla, as the 76ers are riding a high level of momentum.