Celtics’ management of Jayson Tatum’s minutes is a balance for rest of regular season

Jayson Tatum all the time needs to play, however he is aware of that final season’s lengthy, exhausting run to the NBA Finals taught him vital classes in staying recent for the video games that actually matter.

Putting that stability can be key for the Celtics and their famous person because the common season hits the house stretch.

Tatum entered Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to the Nets ranked fourth within the NBA in minutes (1,798) and second in minutes per recreation (37.5). Barring video games he might sit out during the last two-plus months of the season, he’s on monitor to exceed the quantity of minutes he performed final season (2,731), when fatigue and minor accidents finally caught as much as him in June.

Tatum’s minutes ticked as much as 38.7 per recreation in January thanks to 3 time beyond regulation video games, together with two within the final week and two during which he performed 47 and 48 minutes apiece. Requested a few plan to cut back Tatum’s minutes the remainder of the season, interim head coach Joe Mazzulla provided a well-recognized tune.

“Don’t play time beyond regulation video games,” Mazzulla mentioned, a line he repeated from the weekend.

It’s, in fact, extra sophisticated than that. Tatum indicated final month that he’ll have conversations with president of basketball operations Brad Stevens about taking relaxation days in the course of the second half of the schedule, particularly as he continues to handle lingering wrist and finger accidents.

However final season’s expertise was notable as he prepares for one more hopeful playoff run. Tatum modified his eating regimen and mentioned he discovered sure issues he must do in the course of the season to correctly put together for that. That understanding can be sure to affect selections on Tatum’s minutes for the remainder of the season.

“I belief how he takes care of his physique, I belief the folks round him and I belief every thing that he does,” Mazzulla mentioned. “Will there be moments when we have now to chop his minutes down? Sure, completely. I’m not right here in favor of taking part in guys till they will’t play anymore. On the identical time I belief his work ethic and I belief the folks round him to suppose that he took what he discovered from the finals and was capable of apply that in his summer time exercises, in his preseason exercises and in his each day strategy to how he takes care of himself.”

All-Star nod ‘huge deal’

Whereas Mazzulla performed down the dignity of being named an All-Star Sport head coach, his gamers are doing the alternative. Marcus Good praised his coach on Tuesday and advised that Mazzulla is definitely pumped about it, and Al Horford adopted swimsuit on Wednesday.

“It doesn’t matter to him, but it surely’s an enormous deal for us,” Horford mentioned. “It’s fairly particular. It’s spectacular how he’s been capable of take the helm and lead us by this path. The start of this season simply wasn’t straightforward. All of the unknowns occurring. The teaching workers, too. Everyone has actually sort of come collectively. All of the assistants, Joe, everyone’s come collectively and sort of made it work for us. Actually, the transition’s been good, it’s been easy and we’ve simply been capable of focus and transfer ahead. He’s not celebrating, I’m celebrating for him, and as a workforce, we’re fairly pleased.”

Parting shot

LeBron James doesn’t appear to be over the controversial ending of the Celtics’ time beyond regulation win over the Lakers on Saturday, when he was denied doubtlessly game-winning free throws on the finish of the regulation after a foul wasn’t referred to as on his game-winning layup try. Referee Eric Lewis later admitted his crew made an error in not calling a foul on Tatum, who clearly made contact with James’ left forearm.

After the Lakers’ time beyond regulation win over the Knicks on Tuesday, James was requested what the distinction was from what transpired in Boston in his workforce popping out on high after Los Angeles blew a late six-point lead in opposition to the Knicks that compelled time beyond regulation.

“I imply, the distinction between right here and Boston is clearly self explanatory,” James instructed reporters. “We have been up six, we had a possibility to make some performs however they made performs. Jalen Brunson took a cost, we bought a cease. The sport was determined by the gamers. In Boston, the sport was determined by the refs. So, it was extra demoralizing.

“We tried to (overcome it), however clearly what occurred in Boston was what occurred. Tonight the sport was determined on the finish of regulation by the gamers.”

Brown a lock?

The All-Star reserves can be introduced on Thursday night time, and Jaylen Brown is sort of a lock to make his second All-Star workforce.

The alternatives for reserve gamers are made by NBA coaches. Mazzulla didn’t reveal who he picked, however shared his basic standards.

“How nicely they performed in opposition to us, how nicely they performed all year long,” Mazzulla mentioned. “I like to take a look at their numbers, effectivity. Simply sort of take the emotion out of it and simply have a look at the basketball participant of it.” …

Robert Williams returned after lacking Saturday’s win over the Lakers with a proper ankle sprain.