Former NBA stars take a jab at Celtics: 'Their fans must be disgusted' / News - Basketnews.com

Several former NBA stars didn't hold back from blasting the Celtics following their Game 3 loss to the Miami Heat.

Credit: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Turner Sports; AP Photo/Lynne Sladky Credit Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Turner Sports; AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Boston Celtics' blowout loss to the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals drew severe criticism from several former NBA players, who opinedabout the team's dreadful showing in a critical playoff matchup.

Player of the Game EFF 29 Gabe Vincent Points 29 Accuracy 11-14 Rebounds 2 Assists 3

Whether it be Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown failing to deliver (26 total points) or their defense collapsing against a Heat team that shot 54.5% from the field, the TNT crew ripped Joe Mazzulla's squad apart.

"That was humiliating," Hall of Famer Charles Barkley noted. "We've got to show the highlights of that thing," he joked.

Barkley, who predicted that the Celtics were going to win Game 3 ahead of titip-off, blasted Boston during halftime for their lack of effort. The Celtics trailed Miami, 61-46, at the break.

"I'm embarrassed for the Celtics," Barkley said during TNT's halftime report. "That display of basketball -- no mental toughness. Complaining on every single call. They made the refs mad because they complain on every single call.

The lack of mental toughness is embarrassing. I've been fortunate and blessed to play against the Lakers and the Celtics, the two best organizations in NBA history. That was an embarrassment for the Celtics. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Larry Bird, M.L. Carr, Kevin McHale, the best player I played against. That was embarrassing as a Celtics fan," he argued.

Another NBA legend who battled against Bird, McHale, and some of the Celtics greats concurred with Barkley.

"It's time for the Celtics to make major changes. In my 44 years of being associated with the NBA, I never thought I'd see a Boston Celtics team, a franchise with 17 Championships, quit," Earvin Magic Johnson tweeted.

"I know Celtics fans all over the world must be disgusted and devastated. The Miami Heat blew them 128-102 out in Game 3."

Even though coach Joe Mazzulla assumed most of the blame during his postgame presser, both Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal stressed that players need to also be held accountable.

"First of all, coach, quit saying 'me.' Let's say 'We were not ready to play.' I know he's trying to do the right thing, take a bullet for the team," Barkley said of Mazzulla.

"But he can't be saying 'me.' That was embarrassing for the Boston Celtics, one of the greatest franchises in sports history. But he took all the bullets. He can’t take all the blame for what these Celtics are doing."

"I respect Joe Mazzulla for taking all the blame. But I don't want to hear that," O'Neal added.

"As a superstar, I cannot go 6/17. Celtics came out with no sense of urgency. The Heat knew what they had to do. And they're committed to doing it. They’ve been doing it all year."

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