Celtics ‘never got over’ Ime Udoka exit, viewed as overreaction (report)

The Celtics are one loss from their season coming to a disappointing end. They fell 3-0 behind the Heat in the East Finals, including a blowout Game 3 loss that cast a tough light on the organization. The C’s were criticized heavily after the loss by many as they appeared to quit midway through the game.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, in talking about the Celtics’ struggles, mentioned an interesting point when it comes to the team’s relationship with ex-C’s coach Ime Udoka’s removal from the team. Udoka was suspended then dismissed after he had an inappropriate workplace relationship, along with breaking other team rules. The massive change affected the team right before the start of training camp.

“This team, this locker room, they never got over Ime Udoka’s dismissal as head coach,” Wojnarowski said. “These players did not accept the organization’s reasoning for doing it. They thought it was a wild overreaction. There were a lot of people on the outside who thought it was an overreaction, it was an HR matter.”

In the meantime, the Celtics will look to rally from a 3-0 series deficit. But the odds are stacked heavily against them as the Heat have seemingly had an answer for them throughout the series. That has led to plenty of criticism thrown the Celtics’ way, which includes coach Joe Mazzulla amid a stretch of tough losses.

Mazzulla shouldered the blame for not getting the Celtics ready to play for Game 3. His team defended him after the game, but Mazzulla has been criticized heavily these playoffs. The 34-year-old was named interim coach right before the start of training camp, taking over for the then-suspended Udoka.

Since then, Mazzulla led the Celtics to the No. 2 seed in the East playoffs; he was also promoted to full-time coach at the All-Star break. Udoka was no longer with the Celtics, so he moved on and is now the head coach of the Rockets. Udoka’s Houston hiring concluded the Celtics part of the saga, but it appears the players could still feel the aftereffects of the head-coaching change.

Regardless, the Celtics’ season isn’t over yet with Game 4 still left on the schedule, set for 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Miami. But if the C’s go out like they did in Game 3 in blowout fashion into the offseason, the outside noise will only get louder.

“I think with this team, and talking with management, they never got the answers, they never got anymore answers than the public was getting on this,” Wojnarowski said. “That doesn’t mean they haven’t accepted Joe Mazzulla as head coach. But this is a team that really believed in Ime Udoka, had a strong connection with him. I think there were a couple instances this season where a lot of that angst resurfaced. First, when the Brooklyn Nets nearly hired Udoka as head coach and then when the Rockets did.”