Whoever organized for Jayson Tatum and Derrick White to do their post-game media availability collectively after their second preseason recreation in opposition to the Denver Nuggets deserves a elevate.
Celtics followers love Jayson Tatum and Derrick White. I wouldn’t say that love comes from Jayson and Derrick’s participating post-game interviews. And that’s tremendous. They aren’t being paid to be post-game podcasters.
Earlier than every reply, the Celtics teammates shared a glance and a smile — even for an innocuous query about beating among the finest groups within the league within the preseason.
Like most NBA superstars, Jayson Tatum prides himself on having a selected type relating to pre- and post-game “matches.” When a reporter accused him of getting a pretend watch, Tatum had one of many extra actual reactions we’ve seen from him
Tatum has at all times been comparatively frugal. His mom, Brandy, didn’t let him spend any of the cash from his first contract on issues exterior of requirements. If he wished to spend cash, that needed to come from endorsements. So, I suppose it’s doable the watch is pretend. Tatum’s response would counsel that the “child’s watch” in all probability prices greater than my automobile.
A part of what made the Boston Celtics so dominant final season, exterior of their overwhelming expertise, was their dedication to profitable the margins each night time, like limiting turnovers and the opposing crew’s free throw makes an attempt.
The Celtics weren’t an elite offensive rebounding crew final 12 months; they ranked 14th in offensive rebound share. Nonetheless, Mazzulla carried out having gamers, usually guards, crash the offensive boards from the corners — an efficient tactic as I’m positive you may image Jrue Vacation and Payton Pritchard hovering in from the corners to safe additional possessions for the Celtics offense.
Tatum might have scoffed on the concept of a paltry two offensive rebounds for Derrick White within the second preseason recreation in opposition to the Denver Nuggets, but when White have been to common two offensive rebounds per recreation, that will have ranked him second within the NBA final season when it comes to offensive rebounds per recreation for gamers underneath six-foot-seven.
Seeing the fellows smile and chortle up on the stage was refreshing. Extra of that will be a welcome change to the post-game pressers.
