Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett Explain How Celtics Botched Game 7 Vs. 76ers

That all changed in the hours leading up to Saturday's contest, however, as Tatum's status was updated to questionable and he was stunningly ruled out shortly before the game.

Pierce and Garnett think if that was the plan all along to protect Tatum's long-term health, the team shouldn't have played mind games with its players and given them more time to prepare for Tatum's absence.

"They made a long-term decision," Pierce said on Thursday's episode of "Ticket & The Truth." "What could happen."

Garnett did not approve of Tatum being ruled out at the last minute.

"You about to go scrap, and one of your best scrappers ain't here. That's a blow to the morale in here. That's a blow to the camaraderie," Garnett said. "You need all hands on deck."

"Just psychologically...it is devastating," Pierce agreed.

Garnett and Pierce played in their fair share of Game 7s, so they know the pressure of mentally preparing for one. With the shocking Tatum decision, Boston didn't give its players the chance to do that properly, and it may have cost them the game.

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