Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum didn’t assist his MVP case in Saturday evening’s 116-102 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard.
However it was a efficiency Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla imagine was nonetheless value raving about.
Tatum solely took 15 photographs and completed with 19 factors, six rebounds and 6 assists in a game-high 43 minutes, however the five-time All-Star, who has heard his identify within the MVP dialog extra as of late, did all of the little issues to push the Celtics to their eighth straight win.
“I assumed right this moment was a gorgeous show of basketball from Jayson, and I feel it should go underlooked and won’t go into probably the most beneficial class,” Mazzulla advised reporters, per NBC Sports activities Boston postgame protection. “However his means to regulate the sport together with his pick-and-roll tempo, his pick-and-roll passing, his protection. He put himself on (Jalen) Brunson. And the poise, welcoming the two-on-ones and creating for different was nice.
Story continues beneath commercial
“My hat’s off to him for understanding that that’s a method for us to win.”
Tatum’s standout exhibiting got here towards a troublesome Tom Thibodeau protection that may normally flummox one of the best gamers within the league. However as an alternative of making an attempt to pressure any subject, Tatum neatly dealt with double groups because the Celtics shot 56.8% from the sphere — their second-best taking pictures evening of the season.
“I feel Jayson did a extremely good job of being poised,” Al Horford advised reporters, per NBC Sports activities Boston postgame protection. “They actually threw lots at him. They doubled, various things making an attempt to throw him off, and I really feel like he made the correct play each time.”
Tatum’s heady play was rewarded with Mazzulla sticking with him to start the fourth quarter, which is normally a degree within the sport the 6-foot-8 ahead heads to the bench for some relaxation earlier than getting again in for the stretch run.
Story continues beneath commercial
“It was principally the best way that they have been guarding him and the best way that he was enjoying,” Mazzulla mentioned. “I needed to remain in that area for so long as attainable, in the event that they have been going to maintain persevering with to create two-on-ones rapidly. And he put himself on Brunson. He had nice defensive consciousness and a mindset. And so I felt like that was type of what the sport wanted was to remain in that area. And I assumed he did a terrific job of navigating that.”
