With the season on the line, the Boston Celtics not only lost Game 6 of their series against the New York Knicks, ending their season in the process, but they were also humiliated by a final score of 119-81.
Playing without Jayson Tatum proved too much to overcome against their division rival, though the Celtics had their franchise player for the first four games of the playoff series and were still down 2-1 before he tore his Achilles.
Tatum's injury undoubtedly played a role in how the Celtics not only lost but got blown out. However, many Celtics fans decreed that head coach Joe Mazzulla was the problem, leading to calls for his firing.
Joe Mazzulla
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
One fan simply wrote, "Fire Mazzulla."
Another demanded, "FIRE MAZZULLA TONIGHT #celtics."
Another fan was more polite about it but sent the same message, writing, "Always happy to hit the Garden, but tonight was arguably a waste of money. Please fire Mazzulla."
Others were declaring that Mazzulla should lose his job on the spot.
"Is there a way to fire Joe Mazzulla before he gets to the locker room?"
"Maybe if we lose by 50 Brad will fire Mazzulla," another wondered.
Other fans pulled for Mazzulla to be replaced with someone specific.
"Fire Mazzulla!! I want coach Malone!!"
Another wrote, "Promote cassell to Head coach, fire Mazzulla"
This was not the final result the Celtics wanted, but firing Mazzulla would be drastic when considering he led Boston to an NBA championship just last season.