Celtics' Coach Joe Mazzulla Makes Bizarre Admission After Game 3 Humiliation vs Miami

• Boston Celtics' head coach, Joe Mazzulla has taken the blame for his team's embarrassing Game 3 defeat to the Miami Heat
• The Celtics lost 128-102 on the road to go 0-3 down in the Eastern Conference finals
• No NBA team has erased a 0-3 deficit in playoff history

The Boston Celtics' hopes of making the NBA Finals for the second season in a row were dealt a massive blow after they lost to the Miami Heat 128-102 in the Eastern Conference finals.

They are now 0-3 down and need a miracle to advance. Celtics' coach Joe Mazzulla admitted he didn't prepare his team well for Game 3 in Miami.

It was a dreadful performance from the title favorites. The hosts had a 22-point lead at halftime and led by as many as 33 in the game.

Unlike Game 2, which Celtics controlled, Game 3 was a different story. The Heat closed the first quarter with a 16-6 run. The Celtics did cut the lead to 12 points in the third quarter, but the hosts responded by going on a 22-7 run and never looked back.

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Mazzulla's team struggled all game. After shooting 11-for-42 from three in Game 3, they are now 31-for-106 (29.2%) from deep.

Their two stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, were poor again in Game 3. Tatum finished with 14 points on 6-for-18, including 1-of-7 from beyond the arc, per ESPN.

Brown had 12 points on 6-for-17 shooting. He is now 2-for-20 from three in the series.

Mazzulla takes blame

After the game, Mazzulla, who is in his first year of coaching, said all the blame should be on him for failing to prepare his team for Game 3.

"I just didn't have them ready to play," Mazzulla said. "I have to get them in a better place to be ready to play, and that's on me."

The youngest NBA coach admitted there was a disconnect in the team.

"That's where I have to be better to figure out what this team needs to make sure that they're connected, they're physical and they're together by the time we step on the floor," he said, via Sporting News.

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The 34-year-old was made permanent head coach after stepping in in an interim capacity following the suspension and subsequent dismissal of Ime Udoka, per the Athletic.

Mazzulla was heavily criticized after the embarrassing defeat, and it will be interesting to see the decisions the Celtics make if they get swept by the 8th seed. Tatum is looking forward.

"As tough as tonight was, we just got to try to move on," Tatum said. "Prepare, get ready, practice, film and stuff for tomorrow. Obviously we're in a tough position. But we've got to have some pride, bounce back and just be better come Tuesday."

NBA teams are 0-149 when trailing 3-0 in a best-of-seven series. Therefore, the Celtics need a monumental effort to erase that deficit.

NBA teams facing 0-3 deficit

Sports Brief earlier looked at NBA teams forcing Game 6 or 7 when trailing 0-3 in a best-of-seven playoff series.

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The Lakers and the Celtics are 0-3 down in the conference finals, and need to win four straight games to advance.

Several teams have forced a Game 6, but only three have forced a Game 7 - but none of these teams went on to win.