As Brad Stevens was being posed a query about Jayson Tatum’s minutes and the argument for the Celtics’ star taking relaxation, the president of basketball operations interrupted.
“It’s a fight,” Stevens acknowledged on Friday.
Tatum revealed final month that he and Stevens have battled one another on the topic. It’s an necessary one, particularly now because the Celtics hit the house stretch of the common season and put together for one more probably lengthy postseason run, a yr after Tatum waned within the NBA Finals partly attributable to fatigue.
With 26 common season video games left, Stevens mentioned the Celtics have mapped out relaxation days for Tatum, who ranks fourth within the NBA in minutes performed and is on tempo to set a career-high within the class. It consists of doubtless sitting out Wednesday’s dwelling sport in opposition to the Pistons, which is the second sport of a back-to-back after Tuesday’s highway sport in opposition to the Bucks and the final sport earlier than the All-Star break.
“We’ll probably make him sit Wednesday’s game just because of the toll he’s already taken,” Stevens mentioned. “But he’ll fight us on that, too.”
Tatum has solely missed three of 56 video games this season and although he’s among the many league leaders in minutes, he’s been prepared for that workload for the reason that summer season, when he and his coach Nick Sang made out a plan to bodily and mentally put together for one more lengthy season. Tatum has been coping with lingering, minor accidents – together with a nagging wrist subject that began final yr – however mentioned earlier this month that his physique feels a lot better at this level than final season.
In an age of load administration – when stars throughout the league relaxation typically – Tatum is exclusive in that he desires to play irrespective of the circumstances. He’s bodily match to tackle that heavy workload. But the Celtics additionally wish to be certain that their greatest participant is as contemporary as attainable for crucial video games. For Stevens, it’s about hanging a stability.
“I think the reality is we need to balance it right, but we also need to make sure that he gets enough high-minute games, too,” Stevens mentioned. “It is a balance. I think the idea of having a night or two or playing a little bit less is good. But you also need a few – especially heading into the playoffs – a few 40, 42-minute games to get ready for those games. So there’s a balance. I think we’re in a good shape with that. He feels good physically, which is a good thing. But he wants to play. I’m really happy. I think he really should be celebrated for that. He’s one of those – I don’t know if it’s throwback or whatever – but he does not like to sit.”
Muscala settles rapidly
Mike Muscala definitely wasn’t shy in his first sport with the Celtics. Less than 24 hours after being traded from Oklahoma City, the veteran huge artificial his debut with 3:30 left within the first quarter of Friday’s win over the Hornets. Less than two minutes later, he canned his first shot try on a spot-up 3-pointer.
“I joked with him, he hit his first shot, and he was sitting on the bench, I was like, ‘Man, that’s big time,’” Tatum mentioned. “To come to a new team, never practiced with us, to come in and knock down your first shot, just as a basketball player, I know how good that felt.”
Muscala took eight 3-pointers, all with out hesitation. He made 4 of them in a powerful debut, a lot to the delight of the TD Garden crowd.
“We just can see how important he can be for us,” Tatum mentioned. “A big body, long arms, obviously can stretch the floor, so glad we got him.”
Muscala, although, thinks he wants loads of work on the opposite finish. At instances on Friday, he mentioned he known as out the mistaken defensive coverages as habits from when he was with the Thunder. But he mentioned he’s excited to get entangled with the Celtics’ switching protection, an space he challenged himself to enhance on final offseason.
“I think I got a ways to go in terms of learning the defensive schemes,” Muscala mentioned. “I think it was cool, they let you play here. Offensively and defensively they made plays. We’re just trying to be better with the coverages and there were a few times where I messed that up. But like I said, it’s fun cause they give you a lot of freedom there.”
Muscala is carrying No. 57 for the Celtics in remembrance of his late mom, who was born in 1957 and died simply earlier than this season started.
Friendly fireplace
Tatum looks like he owes one thing to Jaylen Brown, who he by chance elbowed within the head and brought on a facial fracture in Wednesday’s win over the 76ers, which is leaving Brown out indefinitely. When requested if he might assist Brown discover a masks to put on, he had one surprising suggestion.
“I mean that’s the least I can do, right?” Tatum mentioned. “I feel like I need to buy him a car or something. First time all season me and him both crash from the corner, and I end up elbowing him in the face. Obviously, I feel terrible, a freak accident, but whether it’s a mask or buying him a car, I think I got it.”
What type of automotive?
“Something safe,” Tatum cracked.
Meaningful milestone
With his third 3-pointer in Friday’s win, Tatum, at 24 years previous and 344 days, turned the youngest participant in NBA historical past to make 1,000 profession 3-pointers. What made the milestone extra particular: He handed childhood buddy Bradley Beal for the brand new mark.
“That was the coolest part for me and I know he’s probably genuinely happy for me too and that’s the best part of it,” Tatum mentioned. “Somebody I want to be like and helped me get to this point, being very happy for me means the world. For me to break the record and pass him, finding that out was pretty cool.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com