Jayson Tatum will step onto the postseason stage Sunday for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon last May, capping a 48-week recovery that once left him unsure he would play at all this season.
“I didn’t even know if I was going to play this year,” the forward told reporters, adding that simply having “the opportunity to be a part of the team and play in the playoffs” makes him “grateful.”
Boston went 13-3 in Tatum’s 16 regular-season appearances, outscoring opponents by 10.5 points per 100 possessions while he logged limited minutes. Even with a restriction, he averaged 21.8 points, 10 rebounds and 5.3 assists, numbers that climbed as he regained rhythm.
Long-time tandem still trending upward
Inside the locker room, the Celtics believe Tatum and Jaylen Brown remain on an upward trajectory in their ninth season together, The Boston Globe reported. Both players now rank among the franchise’s top 10 career scorers, and Brown pointed to the 2024 championship as proof of the duo’s staying power. “We’ve been right there for a long amount of time,” Brown said. “It’s been a pleasure.”
Walsh prepares for Maxey matchup
Rookie wing Jordan Walsh, who held Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey to 1-for-9 shooting as his primary defender in November, is eager for a playoff rematch. Walsh said the key is forcing Maxey to “go to their second option, their third option,” and denying his preferred step-back to the right.
Backup center minutes up for grabs
Head coach Joe Mazzulla faces a decision between Nikola Vucevic and Luka Garza for most reserve center minutes, according to MassLive. Since arriving from Chicago in February, Vucevic has shot 43.9% from the field and 34% from three-point range, but the team’s overall net rating has remained solid during his floor time.
Source: Hoops Rumors
