Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley put Celtics on blast after Game 3 loss initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics invited a boatload of criticism with their lackluster effort Sunday night time — and boy, did the criticism come.
Needing a win to keep away from falling right into a 3-0 sequence gap within the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics let the Miami Heat stroll throughout them in Game 3, struggling a 128-102 defeat at Kaseya Center that pushed their season to the brink.
The Heat embarrassed the C’s to the purpose the place the normally hot-take-averse Magic Johnson lit into his former rival on social media.
It’s time for the Boston Celtics to make main adjustments.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 22, 2023
In my 44 years of being related to the NBA I by no means thought I’d see a Boston Celtics staff, a franchise with 17 Championships, give up. I do know Celtics followers all around the world should be disgusted and devastated. The Miami Heat blew them out 128-102 in Game 3.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 22, 2023
“In my 44 years of being related to the NBA, I by no means thought I’d see a Boston Celtics staff … give up,” Johnson wrote, including that Celtics followers ought to really feel “disgusted” and “devastated” after a loss so dangerous that head coach Joe Mazzulla sat his starters for your complete fourth quarter.
We’d think about Johnson, whose Lakers beat the Celtics two of 3 times within the NBA Finals in the course of the Nineteen Eighties, took some pleasure in sending these tweets, whilst Los Angeles finds itself down 3-0 to the Denver Nuggets within the Western Conference Finals.
Meanwhile, Charles Barkley had no reservations about piling on the Celtics after Game 3. In reality, the Hall of Famer and NBA on TNT analyst took a shot on the C’s in the midst of his crew’s interview with Heat guard Gabe Vincent, who scored a game-high 29 factors.
Vincent: “[The Celtics] are a extremely good staff…they don’t seem to be gonna lay down.”
Chuck: “Clearly you did not watch the sport tonight. …Go have a look at the tape once more.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/ipZZRWdSDK
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 22, 2023
“Clearly you didn’t watch the sport tonight,” Barkley replied when Vincent stated he expects the Celtics to return out sturdy in Game 4. “Talking about well-coached and don’t lay down? Hey, go have a look at the tape once more.”
The C’s could not take pleasure in this snark on the nationwide stage, however they introduced it on themselves with their poor efficiency on each ends in Game 3. They’re the extra proficient staff than Miami on paper, however the No. 8 seed Heat are taking part in with way more effort and motivation — and are one win away from ending Boston’s season in consequence.
Game 4 is ready for Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Miami, with NBC Sports Boston’s protection starting at 7 p.m. ET.