Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla appreciates Jayson Tatum’s balanced approach
Tatum earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors following
Jayson Tatum opened the season on a tear, putting up a pair of 37-point performances, shooting 48.6 percent from deep, and dishing out six assists per game over the first three games. The Celtics forward earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors Monday, and coach Joe Mazzulla appreciates Tatum’s balanced approach.
“I just like that he‘s playing balanced basketball,” Mazzulla said ahead of the Celtics’ 119-108 win over the Bucks at TD Garden. “His potential assists are up. He’s not screening as much because he’s handling, making good decisions in pick and rolls vs. different coverages, so we’ll get to that eventually. But just the balanced attack on both ends of the floor and a good awareness of how he’s being guarded and working to find where the advantage is, where the two-on-one is.
“He’s good enough to impact the game every single night in all statistical areas, we just have to keep doing that.”
Mazzulla shook his head and raised his arms slightly when asked about the lift Tatum’s hot start has provided the team.
“He gives us a lift when he’s out there all the time. He’s a good player. I don’t know what to tell you,” Mazzulla said.
Tatum’s shooting cooled off Monday night as he notched 15 points on 6-for-16 shooting, but he led the Celtics with eight rebounds. He also had four assists and a pair of steals.
Warm moment
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said his phone started buzzing after Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett reunited at the Celtics’ banner ceremony. The 2007-08 champions all texted the former Celtics coach photos from opening night, which were welcome sights for Rivers.
“It‘s cool, each guy sent me that picture separately,” Rivers said. “I think they were trying to tell me, ‘Hey, look at us, we get along.’ It was hilarious. I got a ping, and then I got a ping, and I got a ping, so it was pretty funny.
“It was cool to see though. It needed to be seen. There’s a lot of cities and this city winning is pretty special, there’s no doubt about that.”
Coach Rondo
Rivers interrupted a question about Rajon Rondo to issue a reminder about the former Celtics guard’s new role.
“Coach Rondo. It’s coach Rondo, thank you,” Rivers said.
Rondo, also an ‘07-08 champion, is serving as a guest coach on Rivers’s staff this season. The team is still determining how much of a commitment that will entail.
“I knew he would coach if he wanted to do that,” Rivers said. “He definitely has the smarts. He’s the smartest player I’ve ever coached. It’s been a two-year thing with me trying to get him to do it. He’s kind of dabbled in it. He kind of looks at it.
“He’s got a son, and that’s at the core. It’s not that he wanted to be a coach, he’s got a son that’s a really talented player and he’s working with him. So, we’re crafting out a schedule right now to try to give him enough to be there and be with us.“
Rivers said his goal was to get Rondo involved with and eventually hooked on coaching. Spending training camp with the team was the first step.
“He loves it,” Rivers said. “It’s in him and once it gets in you, it can’t get out of you. So, that was my goal and then the next steps are whatever happens.”
Hauser remains out
Sam Hauser missed his third consecutive game for the Celtics with lower back pain. The forward hasn’t played since the season opener against the Knicks.
Second-year forward Jordan Walsh saw some action early, subbing in for Jaylen Brown during the first quarter. Walsh played 13 minutes, his highest total in three appearances this season, and scored 2 points to go with three rebounds.
Payton Pritchard picked up the shooting slack, going 8-for-12 from 3-point range for 28 points. He tied the franchise record for most 3-pointers off the bench.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com