On the eve of a brand new season, Jayson Tatum was feeling assured.
Months faraway from cementing his standing as one of many sport’s greatest in main the C’s to the NBA Finals, and after a much-needed summer season of restoration, Tatum was able to do it once more. It felt like the primary day of college for him. He even had his outfit picked out.
“Butterflies?” Tatum was requested. “Not anymore.”
Entering his sixth season, Tatum is certain of himself, is aware of all of the methods he can influence the sport, and he is aware of what it takes to win. And apparently, performed along with his sluggish capturing begins – a nod to his self-imposed criticism this preseason.
Of all of the query marks going through these Celtics – most notably how they transfer ahead after the season-long suspension of Ime Udoka – Tuesday’s season opener was a reminder that their expertise will prevail on most nights, and so they have the celebs able to main them. Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 factors, and the Celtics ran away from the Philadelphia 76ers within the second half on their method to a 126-117 opening evening victory at TD Garden.
The Celtics might not have been treating this like an announcement sport, however as “Gino Time” flashed on the video board on the remaining buzzer and chants of “Let’s go Celtics!” reverberated by means of the constructing, the C’s proved that their give attention to blocking out any exterior noise wasn’t simply lip service.
“We picked up right where we left off,” mentioned Joe Mazzulla, who received in his NBA teaching debut. “I pride myself in the Boston fans and the city of Boston, and when they’re cheering for you, that means you’re doing something right.”
The Celtics, although, gave the impression to be pissed off at sure factors and seemed to teeter them on the sting. Tempers flared towards a bitter rival. Questionable fouls put them in troublesome spots. After a robust begin, Al Horford picked up two fast fouls – and was issued a flagrant – however even with out Rob Williams, the Celtics, helped by an unlikely supply in Noah Vonleh, did an admirable job in controlling Joel Embiid.
But that they had one other MVP-caliber participant to take care of. James Harden flustered the Celtics throughout a ridiculous first-quarter run by which he scored 16 factors and was fouled on three 3-point makes an attempt. The C’s weathered that storm to take a tie sport into halftime, however frustrations almost boiled early within the third quarter, when Marcus Smart and Embiid obtained twisted up. Smart grabbed Embiid’s leg, and the Sixers large man crumbled to the ground in what Grant Williams described as a FIFA-like flop. The groups then needed to be separated as feelings obtained excessive.
But when the mud settled – after Smart was issued a private and technical foul – the Celtics didn’t let any of these frustrations overcome them.
“We’re going to make mistakes,” Mazzulla mentioned. “We’re not going to play perfect. If it’s a foul, it’s a foul. It is what it is. But we have to be able to move onto the next play and they went on that run in the second quarter, maybe they went up 8, and we didn’t call a timeout, because I trust our guys and I thought they maintained their poise and we executed and got back in the game. So I thought that was key.”
Then, the Jays did their factor.
With the sport tied at 68 early within the third quarter, the Celtics stars took over as they obtained out in transition and took benefit of their velocity and talent emphasised by their smaller lineups. Tatum and Brown scored the subsequent 10 Celtics factors, capped by Brown’s runaway dunk to place the C’s up six and power a timeout by Sixers coach Doc Rivers, earlier than they continued their flurry and stored turning Embiid and the Sixers over. Tatum hit a 3 with 3:49 to place the C’s up 12, and raised his hand within the air towards the group.
Tatum – who scored 17 third-quarter factors – and the Celtics by no means seemed again.
Brown and Tatum have each had large performances of their time collectively – however Brown thought Tuesday’s was completely different given the circumstances because the Celtics honored late franchise icon Bill Russell.
“It was unique and special,” Brown mentioned. “I’m happy we both came out and performed and got the win, but it feels a little bit better knowing what and knowing who we were playing for.”
And after a brief summer season of reflection after their NBA Finals loss to the Warriors, the 2 Celtics stars are on the identical web page. They know what they’re pursuing, and as they each attempt to take the subsequent step of their careers, it doesn’t even have to be mentioned.
“I think what’s understood doesn’t have to be explained, in a sense,” Brown mentioned. “We both are extremely competitive, both are trying to get better, trying to get our franchise better, trying to make our teammates better … trying to chase a championship. We both had bad summers after losing to the Warriors on our home floor and have to answer for it all summer long. I can speak for him and I can speak for myself that it was tough. Going into this season, we kept all of that in mind.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com