It’s never a good thing when one of your star players goes almost historically cold in the first half of a must-win playoff game, but even after Jayson Tatum went 0-for-10 in the first half of Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2023 East Semis, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla still had plenty of praise for the Duke alum.
“His poise got him going,” explained Mazzulla postgame to CLNS Media. “So, the standard that is set for him, to where if he’s not scoring, he’s not playing good basketball, is wrong.”
“And so he’s had multiple games this series when he’s at his best, he doesn’t need to score.”
Celtics Lab 190: Boston snatches victory from the jaws of defeat in Game 6 with Greg Brueck-Cassoli https://t.co/C2ffhAE1I2
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) May 12, 2023
“I thought his communication with his teammates, I thought his defensive intensity, and … even his force when driving the ball kept him in the game,” added the Celtics head coach.
“He plays with a level of poise, regardless of how the game is going.”
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