Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is drawing serious heat for an ill-fated decision with his team’s season on the line.
Mazzulla trotted out a completely unexpected starting lineup on Saturday for Game 7 of their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. The Celtics coach grouped veterans Jaylen Brown and Derrick White with a trio of Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza, and Ron Harper Jr.
The lineup had never started a game together before. None of Harper, Garza, or Scheierman had even started a playoff game at all in their careers entering Saturday’s game. The unit’s lack of chemistry manifested immediately, as the 76ers raced to a 9-0 lead in the opening minutes and led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter.
Fans and media members alike were quick to criticize Mazzulla for the gamble that did not pay off.
I'm definitely a big Mazzulla fan, but he overthought the starting lineup in this one, I think. Garza, Scheierman AND Harper is a wild choice. Felt panicky to me.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) May 3, 2026
I have to give a ton of the blame for this game to Joe Mazzulla. That impromptu starting lineup he played posted a -70 net rating and helped the Sixers get off to a hot start.
— Latif Love (@realLatifLove) May 3, 2026
The Luke Garza minutes were terrible in general, and Nikola Vucevic getting a DNP is a bit…
Maybe it works but starting a lineup in a Game 7 that has *played zero minutes together all year* is absolutely bananas by Mazzulla.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) May 2, 2026
Joe Mazzulla will either go down as a genius, or an absolute idiot. There is no in between because this starting lineup is incomprehensible.
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) May 2, 2026
Scheierman, Harper Jr & Garza have a combined ZERO career postseason starts… https://t.co/z2LwIbKHdW
Boston battled back and even had a chance to take the lead in the closing moments. But the Celtics fell short in a 109-100 contest — ironically, the same deficit they gave up to start the game.
The trio of Scheierman, Garza, and Harper Jr. went scoreless and missed all seven of their shot attempts. Harper Jr. never even touched the floor again after his four minutes to start the game.
No playoff starting lineup had ever had three of its members score zero points in NBA history until Saturday’s Game 7. The group of playoff novices was clearly not ready for the moment.
The Celtics were in scramble mode with Jayson Tatum being ruled out for Game 7 at the last minute. But Mazzulla’s decision seemed unwise immediately after tipoff and even more so in hindsight.
