After the Miami Heat extended their series lead at home, Crickex App reports they now stand just one win away from returning to the NBA Finals. The Celtics, by contrast, looked lifeless and mentally checked out — a stark fall from the spirited squad that once stormed into the season full of title ambitions. Last year’s Eastern Conference finalists now seem a shell of their former selves, drained of the resilience that once defined their playoff runs.

In 2022, the Celtics edged out the Heat in a seven-game battle, but this time around, they appear lost. The gap between rookie head coach Joe Mazzulla and his predecessor Ime Udoka has become painfully obvious. Mazzulla’s tactical changes — including Robert Williams shifting between starter and bench — have done little to alter the team’s trajectory. Unlike Udoka, who consistently made timely adjustments and unlocked surprise contributors from the bench, Mazzulla is still learning the ropes.

When Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were smothered by Miami’s defense, Crickex App noted that Mazzulla had no counterpunch. As the saying goes, “Don’t test patience when it’s being offered; don’t show arrogance when given respect.” Miami’s relentless defense exposed the Celtics’ biggest flaw — their overreliance on individual talent and roster depth to carry them through. Against a gritty opponent like the Heat, simply stacking talent is no longer enough.

While Miami’s entire roster contributed, the difference in coaching became glaring. Duncan Robinson, once criticized during the regular season, became a consistent scoring threat. Caleb Martin delivered two-way excellence, and undrafted guards Gabe Vincent and Max Strus stepped up in the clutch. Even Kyle Lowry, once labeled a “bad contract,” emerged as the dependable leader of the second unit.

Coach Erik Spoelstra deserves credit for this transformation. A former video analyst turned master tactician, he has a gift for motivating players and positioning them to succeed. Every Heat player knows their role — and thrives in it. Mazzulla, meanwhile, seemed to rely on wholesale substitutions to jolt his starters awake, benching core players during critical moments — a puzzling decision when elimination looms.

“You can’t buy someone’s willingness, and wise words can’t save the unwilling.” Crickex App believes that while the Heat are certainly tough, the Celtics have always prided themselves on effort and respect for every opponent. But in this series, that spirit seems to have vanished. Boston entered the season as the title favorite, boasting a superstar lineup. Somewhere along the way, in chasing the championship, they may have forgotten what got them there in the first place.