Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

Celtics receive message from Jayson Tatum before Game 5

May 14, 2025
in NBA
0
Home NBA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

International WNBA players often leave their teams during the regular season; why that’s changing

2026 NBA Extended Mock Draft: 1.0

Inside the Mavericks’ NBA Draft Party and Arrival of Cooper Flagg

BOSTON — The Celtics received a message from Jayson Tatum following his Achilles surgery on Tuesday in New York, Joe Mazzulla told reporters before Game 5 against the Knicks.

The team spent the past day balancing showing compassion for Tatum through his injury with regrouping to win Game 5. Mazzulla did not share the details of Tatum’s message.

“I spoke to him in person, obviously, that night,” Mazzulla said. “Talked to him through text. He’s doing the best he can. If there’s anybody who can handle it, it’s him. He sent a message to the staff and the players today. So he’s doing better.”

The Celtics’ locker room before Wednesday’s game didn’t mirror the despondent postgame locker room in Madison Square Garden after Game 4. Al Horford greeted each and every player who entered the room with a smile.

A few of the team’s younger players, like Jordan Walsh and JD Davison, chatted demonstrably. In most ways, Monday night’s pregame atmosphere felt pretty normal.

And Payton Pritchard told CelticsBlog that, as the Celtics face elimination down 3-1 against the Knicks, the team is primarily focused on preparing for tonight’s game.

“We haven’t seen him, he’s been in New York, but he sent us a nice message talking about the game and stuff,” Pritchard said. “We gotta come out, compete and win the game for him. All we’re worried about is winning Game 5 now.”

Baylor Scheierman, the Celtics rookie who met Tatum at the Auerbach Center the day he signed his rookie contract with the Celtics, similarly echoed that the team is rallying behind Tatum.

“It’s tough seeing our leader go down,” Scheierman said. “And obviously, having it be what it’s been. You try to just be there for him, try to stay positive, even in a situation that’s tough like that. [I’m a] big believer that everything happens for a reason, and God has a plan for everything. He’s in good spirits now. And I know he’s gonna attack his recovery and come back and be exactly who he was.”

Mazzulla’s message to the team balanced empathy for their brother being in the position he’s in and the importance of the must-win Game 5 tonight.

Asked Joe Mazzulla about the emotions of the last 48 hours — and he discussed the balance caring about Jayson Tatum as a person and prepping for game:

“It’s living in both of those places & knowing that the people is most important, & the player comes second. And now we got to… pic.twitter.com/5NLV2s7M5X

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) May 14, 2025

They have enough in the locker room to win, he stressed, drawing back on short-handed wins throughout the season. He explained they can use how much the Game 4 injury hurt to help them save their season against the Knicks.

The Knicks also sent their best wishes to Tatum on Wednesday

At shootaround on Wednesday morning, Knicks star Jalen Brunson said he felt for Jayson Tatum.

“The league needs Jayson Tatum,” Brunson said. “He still has a lot to do in his career, a lot of time to make an impact and make a name for his legacy. What he’s done is special.”

Mitchell Robinson, who missed significant parts of the 2024 and 2025 season recovering from a foot injury, said the rehab sucks.

Brunson said the Knicks’ approach doesn’t change with Tatum out: “You have to have the same mentality, same focus. They’re still the defending champions.” pic.twitter.com/C1az1bHv5V

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) May 14, 2025

In place of Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis returned to his starting role alongside Al Horford.

But, no player can replace Tatum’s impact; the Celtics have outscored opponents by 12.09 points per 100 possessions with Tatum on the floor this season. That number fell to +0.24 when he’s off.

Mazzulla expects the team to do so collectively, as did Tom Thibodeau, who wished Tatum well before mentioning that Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and others all still defend and provide threes. Boston is 8-2 without Tatum this season, and 1-0 without him in the playoffs. Jaylen Brown led the way in Tatum’s absence in the first round vs the Orlando Magic, exploding for 36 points on 12-19 shooting alongside 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

“Something throughout this season that we’ve done is not have a full roster and be able to manage,” Mazzulla said. “And have different identities that we can play with, and so I think you have to focus on both of those. The empathetic side toward one of your players as a person, how he’s doing, how that impacts the people around us. Then there’s a tactical side of this is where we’re at, and we’ve done this and what gives us the best chance to win tonight so you try to do both of those things.”

Scheierman said that Tatum’s message to the team was uplifting. But, the Celtics would have had to be ready to go regardless.

“It’s definitely good to hear from him,” he said. “Obviously, he can feed positive energy into us. But we’re ready to go tonight, regardless.”





Source link

Tags: beforeboston-celtics-newscelticscelticsblogfromfront-pagegamejaysonmessageNBA playoffsReceivetatum
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

International WNBA players often leave their teams during the regular season; why that’s changing

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
International WNBA players often leave their teams during the regular season; why that’s changing

The Seattle Storm’s Gabby Williams is enjoying a career season in 2025. She’s averaging the most points (14), assists (4.7) and rebounds (4.5) she ever has in seven...

Read more

2026 NBA Extended Mock Draft: 1.0

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
2026 NBA Extended Mock Draft: 1.0

The 2026 NBA Draft class looks even stronger than its 2025 predecessor, headlined by two tank-worthy franchise talents in AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, each of whom could...

Read more

Inside the Mavericks’ NBA Draft Party and Arrival of Cooper Flagg

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
Inside the Mavericks’ NBA Draft Party and Arrival of Cooper Flagg

Nico Harrison emerged from the Dallas Mavericks’ draft room more than two hours after making the No. 1 pick, smiling like he’d just turned in the card. For...

Read more

Kevin Durant to retire in Houston?

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
Kevin Durant to retire in Houston?

Kevin Durant is joining the fifth franchise of his NBA career with the Houston Rockets, and both sides are committed to making this his final destination. Since leaving...

Read more

Kiyan Anthony: I kind of felt bad for Bronny James

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 27, 2025
0
Kiyan Anthony: I kind of felt bad for Bronny James

Kiyan Anthony recently addressed the intense public criticism surrounding Bronny James during his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers, expressing sympathy for the 20-year-old guard’s situation. In...

Read more
Next Post
Manchester United scouts present to watch Cristiano Ronaldo Jr make his Portugal U15 debut – Man United News And Transfer News

Manchester United scouts present to watch Cristiano Ronaldo Jr make his Portugal U15 debut - Man United News And Transfer News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

2024 fighter of the 12 months: Oleksandr Usyk

2024 fighter of the 12 months: Oleksandr Usyk

January 1, 2025
Rampage Jackson Vs. Jake Paul? MMA Legend Challenges YouTuber To No-Weight-Class Brawl

Rampage Jackson Vs. Jake Paul? MMA Legend Challenges YouTuber To No-Weight-Class Brawl

November 25, 2024
Excessive soar battle in Suzhou: World versus Olympic Champion on April 27.

Excessive soar battle in Suzhou: World versus Olympic Champion on April 27.

March 17, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • Brentford reject second bid from Manchester United for Bryan Mbeumo worth £62.5m
  • Ex-Man United defender Marcos Rojo released by Boca Juniors after humiliating Club World Cup exit – Man United News And Transfer News
  • Alessio Tacchinardi insists Koopmeiners had a bad game despite his goal
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.