Joe Mazzulla explains Celtics' controversial Game 7 starting lineup change
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla defended his approach after three of the Celtics' five starters were held scoreless in a Game 7 loss.
Joe Mazzulla explains Celtics' controversial Game 7 starting lineup change originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Boston Celtics were dealt a tough blow when they ruled out star Jayson Tatum before Game 7 on Saturday, but coach Joe Mazzulla's response to Tatum's absence came under fire following a season-ending 109-100 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers .
Mazzulla trotted out a brand new starting five never used during the regular season, with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White joined by Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza and Ron Harper Jr. The Celtics still leaned heavily on their bench, with Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta and Sam Hauser all playing key roles, but Garza finished -15 in eight minutes while Harper was -7 in four minutes. Scheierman played 22 minutes but shot 0-for-4.
All three players were held scoreless. After the game, Mazzulla explained what made him roll with a surprise starting lineup with the season on the line. MORE: What went wrong for Celtics in collapse vs.
76ers? Joe Mazzulla explains starting lineup change Mazzulla was dealt a bad hand with Tatum out, but his decision to craft a lineup featuring Scheierman, Garza and Harper caught many by surprise. After the loss, Mazzulla said he was trying to "give the series a different feel" after back-to-back losses.