We’re lower than 24 hours from Opening Evening, and Celtics star Jayson Tatum is itching to get out on the courtroom. Throughout an interview at Celtics apply, the younger ahead joked about how he was feeling main into tomorrow’s residence opener towards the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jayson Tatum: “It’s like the primary day of faculty tomorrow. I’ve received my outfit laid out.”
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) October 17, 2022
“Truthfully, It’s like the primary day of faculty, you already know? I received my outfit laid out” mentioned Tatum with a smile. “I’m simply excited. Time flies, it’s already my sixth yr (within the league), so simply attempting to remain within the second and revel in it. As a result of it’s like a dream come true, I get to play basketball for a residing. I’m simply able to get again on the market.”
When requested if he nonetheless received butterflies going into the season, Tatum mentioned “Butterflies? Nah, not anymore. I’m anxious, I’m excited. I’m not nervous.” It’s really easy to overlook how seasoned this younger Boston roster is, particularly Tatum, with so a few years of NBA expertise below his belt earlier than age 25. After a deep Finals run, the Boston Celtics appear poised to have one other robust season with stars Tatum and Brown main the cost.
On the place the Celtics are at proper now, Tatum mentioned “I really feel good. I believe we had a very profitable coaching camp. Clearly, we want we had Gallo and Rob, however with the group we’ve had, I really like the way in which we performed in these 4 preseason video games. I really like the way in which we apply. I believe everyone seems to be gelling nicely collectively, with the texture now we have on the market. It feels good.”
Boston’s Finals look towards the Golden State Warriors served as a check for this younger Celtics core, and whereas it didn’t finish the way in which they wished, it served as an necessary lesson. “I believe I simply have extra expertise,” mentioned Tatum, “And studying from that deep playoff run, going to the Finals, there’s some profit to that. I really feel like I approached coming into this yr in another way than I did final season.”
With no Robert Williams for no less than eight weeks to start out the season, Boston has trotted out a a lot smaller lineup with Derrick White taking part in with the starters and Jayson Tatum slotting into energy ahead. Whereas the staff does lose a number of their rebounding that Williams contributed, the Celtics have had stellar spacing and ball motion with one other succesful ballhandler on the ground.
“Basically, I’m the tallest man on the market, and I believe that performs to our energy, simply taking part in quick,” mentioned Tatum, “Anyone can get the rebound and push it, even Al, and we all know that. So when a shot will get up, we get the rebound, no person’s essentially ready within the backcourt to get the ball, all of us push it forward, all of us can assault. We’ve simply received a great really feel for one another, we’ve been taking part in collectively for some time now. So simply sort of realizing the place to be, with out essentially having to name a play, particularly after a miss. Simply get the ball out and go.”
The Celtics might want to make a aware effort and concentrate on boxing out and monitoring down rebounds, particularly with the smaller lineups they’ll run in Williams’ absence. “We simply don’t have any room for error on that finish, for leak-outs,” mentioned Tatum, “When a shot goes up, all people’s gotta assault the glass. Even if you happen to’re boxing anyone out, you gotta do your job and anyone else has gotta seize the board, and simply being conscious of that… we’re not the tallest staff with out Rob proper now, so all people’s gotta get in there and get the rebound.”
In the course of the Celtics preseason finale towards the Raptors in Montreal, Tatum obtained two technical fouls and was tossed from the sport with seconds to go within the third quarter. When requested what he took away from that scenario, Tatum mentioned “That was the primary time I’ve ever gotten thrown out of any sporting occasion. The half that I used to be bothered by was that it was a preseason recreation in Montreal, they usually don’t have an NBA staff. There was a number of Celtics jerseys, and there was a number of guys with quantity zero on them that got here to see me play. You don’t know the subsequent time they’ll have that chance, so I believe that was probably the most unlucky half. However it was preseason, so I didn’t get fined any cash, so I realized my lesson.” After being tossed, Tatum mentioned he ended up going again to the locker room and received a exercise in, which received some laughs from media members.
Tomorrow evening, the Celtics will honor Invoice Russell earlier than the sport, in addition to put on new metropolis version jerseys that have been designed with Russell previous to his passing. When requested concerning the staff honoring Russell’s legacy in Boston in addition to the NBA, Tatum mentioned “I’m excited, and I’m glad that we’re doing that, particularly all through the NBA with all people have quantity six on their jersey. Simply honoring him, clearly how a lot he meant to the Celtics, the sport of basketball, what he meant to this world. I’m honored to be part of that tomorrow.”
About whether or not or not opening evening would function an announcement recreation for the Celtics, Tatum mentioned “Clearly, you wanna win each recreation you play, however we’re not gonna overreact if we win or if we lose. We are able to study from each, it’s just one recreation.”
When requested about if he used final yr’s Finals loss as gasoline, Tatum mentioned “Use it as gasoline? Yeah, we misplaced. It’s no secret, we discuss it, it felt like day-after-day. So it’s sort of a aid to simply get on the market and play basketball and have a aim in thoughts. Clearly we’re attempting to get to a championship, nevertheless it begins with tomorrow. Take it one recreation at a time.”
