The Boston Celtics’ season came to a jarring halt on Saturday night as they fell 109-100 to the Philadelphia 76ers in a decisive Game 7. While the Celtics nearly erased an 18-point deficit, their inability to get over the hump sparked a social media debate that brought legendary coach Phil Jackson out of “hibernation” to weigh in on what went wrong.
The “Triangle” Perspective
The conversation began when former NBA champion Ron Harper—whose son, Ron Harper Jr., started for Boston—took to X to express frustration over the Celtics’ late-game execution. Down by narrow margins in the final five minutes, Boston repeatedly settled for three-point attempts rather than attacking the rim.
Jackson responded to Harper by highlighting a fundamental shift in modern basketball that he believes contributed to the loss:
”Ron, NBA has relied on db-s/roll for penetration—no passes to post or pinch post. Why [triangle] won vs pressure.”
Jackson’s critique suggests that the modern reliance on the dribble screen and roll has come at the expense of post-play and diverse passing angles—hallmarks of his famous Triangle Offense. In Jackson’s view, the lack of a “pinch post” or interior threat allowed the 76ers’ pressure to dictate Boston’s shot selection.
By the Numbers: Living and Dying by the Three
The statistics from the series finale back up the “questionable shot selection” narrative. Despite the championship pedigree of head coach Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics struggled significantly from deep:
- Game 7 Three-Point Shooting: 13-of-49 (26.5%)
- Last Three Games: 27.9% from beyond the arc
- Series Result: Blew a 3-1 lead to the 76ers
Mazzulla Defends the Process
Despite the criticism from Hall of Fame royalty, Joe Mazzulla remained steadfast in his coaching philosophy. Speaking to reporters postgame, Mazzulla insisted that the team played the “right way” by taking the open looks the defense provided.
”I thought we did a great job reading the two-on-ones, taking what the defense gave us,” Mazzulla said. “In the games we lost, the other team shot over 38% from three, and so you got to make shots… love the looks that we got, love the process that we had, but hate the result.”
A Changing Game
Jackson’s comments highlight a growing ideological rift between the “old guard” and the modern NBA. While Jackson has spent years advocating for rule changes—such as widening the court to make the corner three more difficult—today’s game remains centered on pace, space, and volume shooting.
For the Celtics, the loss marks a disappointing first-round exit, especially considering their 56-26 regular-season record. While Mazzulla’s job appears secure due to his 2024 championship win and a likely Coach of the Year nod, the debate over whether Boston is “too reliant” on the jump shot is likely to dominate the off-season.
