HUGE CLASH: NBA Reporter address Addresses furious confrontation with Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla after loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia

During Boston’s recent loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla challenged a reporter, resulting in an unexpected exchange that revealed one thing: don’t ask about the 3-point shot.

Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, who asked the question that riled up Mazzulla after the game, doubled down. Washburn questioned Boston’s reliance on the outside shot when, earlier this season, relying on inside scoring sources was critical to the team’s 5-0 start.

Mazzulla didn’t want to hear it, and Washburn isn’t taking it back.

“My name is Herm Edwards. You play in order to win the game. The whole idea of, ‘Oh, he’s got you.’ Yes, if they had won. “Really, they lost the game, so what am I asking?” Washburn stated this on CLNS Media’s “Cedric Maxwell Podcast.” “I’m asking because there was an issue. Second, this franchise has struggled with 3-point shooting for the past seven to eight years. The whole shoot threes or die mentality hasn’t gotten them a championship. I wouldn’t say anything if I was covering the (Golden State) Warriors.”

The Celtics shot 15-of-47 from beyond the arc (31.9%) that night, allowing the 76ers to win despite Boston overcoming a late double-digit deficit. At times, Boston’s offense became stagnant and incapable of creating the necessary ball movement to find a quality shot. The same could be said about Boston’s loss to the Timberwolves in Minnesota. Not every outside shot is a good one.

“I felt, in that game, just in my case, they had a chance to rally,” Washburn explained. “Joe was telling me, ‘Well, we lost the game in the second quarter.'” That’s fine to say. But you didn’t lose the game in the second quarter; you simply lost control of the game.”

Granted, relying on that source of offense has cost the Celtics a few games in recent years, despite the fact that it is a strong suit for Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and others on the team.

On Wednesday night, the Celtics will get another chance at redemption in Philadelphia. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET from the Wells Fargo Center.