The masks appears to suit Jaylen Brown fairly nicely.
Four nights after he debuted the masks within the All-Star Game – the place he scored a team-high 35 factors for Team LeBron – Brown returned to actual motion after lacking 4 video games earlier than the break, and didn’t look bothered in any respect by the fitted black masks on his face. Brown scored 30 factors in main the Celtics to a 142-138 additional time victory over the Pacers on Thursday evening.
Unlike the All-Star Game, which Brown described as a “glorified layup line” due to the trouble it was performed with, Thursday’s return was the primary time Brown performed with the masks on in a full-speed sport with contact. He’s nonetheless getting snug with it, naturally.
“It’s going to take some getting used to,” Brown instructed reporters in Indiana. “It’s just some things I need to adjust and adapt to, but I will. Today was the first, I would say real game with it on. I think it went fine, but it’s going to definitely take some getting used to and some adjustments and being able to adapt to it, but so far, so good.”
Brown instructed reporters that he’s anticipating to have the masks on for video games for 4-6 weeks, and one week has already handed.
“We’re going to be real acquainted with each other after this duration,” Brown stated of the masks.
Brown is sporting a masks as a result of he suffered a facial fracture within the Celtics’ win over the 76ers on Feb. 8, when he inadvertently caught an elbow from Jayson Tatum whereas they had been each chasing an offensive rebound. Brown instantly left the sport and didn’t return, then missed 4 consecutive video games earlier than the All-Star Game.
While he’s nonetheless getting adjusted to the masks, it didn’t have an effect on how he approached Thursday’s sport however he’s nonetheless getting used to a few of the distinctive nuances of sporting it.
“It’s pretty thick,” Brown stated. “Sometimes it gets a little hot on your face, but I felt protected, I didn’t shy away from contact, I didn’t feel like I had to alter my game or anything like that. It gets a little uncomfortable at times, and then sometimes you have to get your head around and make sure you see everything, if somebody is coming from behind or somebody’s in your side view, but just be able to make those adjustments, you have to keep your head up and see the floor.”
Scary second
Tatum had a tough 9-for-25 capturing efficiency – which included a 2-for-12 begin – in Thursday’s win and he joked a couple of hangover from his All-Star break trip that contributed to it. But a scary fall early within the sport might have additionally performed an element.
With 2:48 left within the first quarter, Tatum made a robust drive to the basket in transition and was referred to as for a cost as he collided with former teammate Aaron Nesmith. But as he crashed to the ground, he landed on his ailing left wrist. He jumped up instantly to shake it off and stayed within the sport.
Tatum suffered a small fracture in his left wrist final season and performed via it all through the Celtics’ run to the NBA Finals. It’s nonetheless been lingering this season, and Tatum has taped it for each sport. He admitted some concern after Thursday’s fall.
“That was scary,” Tatum instructed reporters. “They always teach you not to put your hand out, but it was so quick. I jumped up so quick because I was scared, and I was just moving my hand because that’s the one that’s been bothering me for a year now. Falling right on it, I was really just like trying to see if I could open and close it, if I had strength, and it was painful for 5-10 minutes. But I got it looked at. It’s sore, but I’ll be all right.”
Tatum in the end rounded into kind and shot 7-for-14 within the second half, and must be OK for Saturday evening’s sport in opposition to the 76ers in Philadelphia.
“Just iced it, wrap it on the flight and get some rest,” Tatum stated.
Tough choices
Thursday marked simply the second time this season that the Celtics began their most well-liked 5 of Tatum, Brown, Marcus Smart, Al Horford and Robert Williams – a gaggle that had solely performed 29 minutes collectively earlier than the All-Star break due to a number of accidents. Tatum is hoping that beginning group – which was by far the Celtics’ finest lineup final season of their run to the Finals – can regain their chemistry heading into the playoffs.
“I don’t know what the numbers are, but it feels like we haven’t played with that group a lot this season, so we know what we can get to. It’s just using these last (22) games or so to get back to that point going into the playoffs.”
When the Celtics are absolutely wholesome, like on Thursday, it presents some attention-grabbing choices for coach Joe Mazzulla to make with the plethora of depth he has at his disposal and the multitude of lineup mixtures he can work with relying on matchups.
On any given evening, the Celtics have 13 gamers who could make a huge impact. On Thursday, it was attention-grabbing to notice how Mazzulla used his bench. Derrick White – who shined as a starter throughout Smart’s 11-game absence – and Malcolm Brogdon had been the bench’s greatest contributors. Sam Hauser performed 13 minutes and was efficient. Luke Kornet was the primary backup huge to play, however he and Grant Williams didn’t play within the second half. Trade deadline addition Mike Muscala didn’t play in any respect, and neither did Blake Griffin or Payton Pritchard.
Whatever choices he chooses, although, Mazzulla has religion that egos gained’t get in the way in which and that everyone is keen to play no matter function wanted in pursuit of a title.
“I’m just grateful,” Mazzulla instructed reporters. “Over time, everybody has asked me about the Grants, the Malcolms, the Derricks, and I’ve always said we need guys like that because of their humility and their competitive nature. They understand that regardless of the situation is, they’re ready to play and ready to execute. Tonight, it was Malcolm and it can be either one of those guys. You have to have guys like that.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com