Celtics’ opening-day collapse to Pistons was all too familiar

Joe Mazzulla’s game plan of firing up three-pointers backfires vs. Pistons

It ended up losing 121-113 thanks to a familiar, unsuccessful game plan from head coach Joe Mazzulla. Boston’s leader loves getting up shots from the perimeter, with the team being top five in three-pointers attempted in each season that he’s been the coach.

It ended up being the downfall of the Celtics in the playoffs, as they blew a 3-1 series lead to the Philadelphia 76ers while shooting under 30% from three-point range in the final three games. Mazzulla clearly hasn’t learned from his mistakes, as his team chucked up another 42 shots from beyond the arc against Detroit.

Boston had success with it for much of the game, but then it went ice cold in the fourth quarter, making just 3-of-11 three-point attempts and squandering a game that began so promising. This is a strategy that has sunk the Celtics much more than it has helped recently, yet Mazzulla refuses to shy away from it.

Swapping Brown for George did add more perimeter shooting to the team, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only card Boston can play. It will be interesting to see if Mazzulla changes his philosophy going forward after it backfired yet again.