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Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics

Mazzulla on Jayson Tatum: ‘I don’t think he’s taking a backseat’

Author Tom Morgan

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla called into Zolak and Bertrand to discuss his squad’s 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals and Jayson Tatum’s impressive performance as a facilitator through their matchup against the Dallas Mavericks:

Zolak: Joe, seems like the Mavericks have thrown everything at Tatum. The double, the triple (teams). Jayson has talked about it, ‘As soon as I start dribbling, feels like I’m getting 2-3 guys on me’. Do you feel that’s going to continue in this series and how big has Tatum been as a facilitator, sort of taking the backseat scoring whether it’s Jaylen (Brown), whether it’s Jrue (Holiday), or even (Kristaps) Porzingis like he did in Game 1?

Mazzulla: I think it’s unfortunate first that making the right play is looked at as taking a backseat. I don’t think he’s taking a backseat at all. I think he’s actually been more aggressive by welcoming two-on-ones, welcoming opportunities to make plays and finding the right balance. So I think we just look at it differently. I don’t think he’s taken a backseat. I think he’s been super aggressive in manipulating the defense, taking what the defense gives him, and making the right play.

Zolak: I’m not saying that too. I just think that’s the narrative coming out of these first two games. He still had his 22 shots. I don’t think he took a bad shot the other night.

Mazzulla: No question, I agree.

Zolak: Do you feel like it’s going to come once he starts knocking them down, he’s going to get in that groove?

Mazzulla: I think it’s the classic case of if you make a couple. I thought he got some great looks at layups that I thought just kind of rimmed out. I thought he got great looks. And if those go in, it’s a complete dominant performance. But I just love his mindset. He goes into every game just figuring out how the defense is guarding him and how he can make the greatest impact. He’s just been amazing for us on both ends of the floor. We’ve got to continue that.

LISTEN: Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla joins Zolak & Bertrand

Tyler Milliken started out at the Sports Hub as an intern in 2020 for the Zolak & Bertrand program before eventually becoming the associate producer in late 2021. He often joins the baseball conversation on Zolak & Bertrand and is a contributor to The Baseball Hour throughout the season. Along with that, he has been a co-host on DraftKings Name Redacted Podcast with Jared Carrabis for the last two years, where they cover everything going on with the Red Sox. Born and raised in Brockton, he reps the city proudly.

Celtics hold off Mavericks to take 2-0 lead in NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics held off a late rally by the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter, to win Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals on Sunday night at TD Garden by a 105-98 final.

Boston led by as many as 14 points in the closing minutes, before Dallas made it a two-possession game with a late run. Celtics point guard Derrick White made a timely blocked shot to kill the run for good, and effectively put the game away.

Jrue Holiday led the Celtics in scoring with 26 points, shooting 11-for-14 from the field (78.6%). Jayson Tatum struggled again shooting the ball on offense (6-for-22, 27.3%), but finished with 12 assists and nine rebounds, just one board shy of a triple-double.

Celtics-Mavs Highlights, Game 2

The Mavericks handily out-shot the Celtics in the first quarter, but escaped with only a three-point lead at 28-25. Dallas shot 52.4% as a team, compared to 36.8% for Boston, including 1-for-9 from three-point range.

Jaylen Brown did, however, add another highlight-reel slam dunk to his finals resume.

  • The shots started to fall more in the second quarter, as the C’s shot 12-for-20 (60%) as a team. Point guard Jrue Holiday continued his hot shooting, ending up with 17 first-half points on 7-of-9 (77.8%) from the field.

    Celtics on NBC Sports Boston on X (formerly Twitter): "That ball movement 😮‍💨👌 pic.twitter.com/LJtTmxYbzD / X"

    That ball movement 😮‍💨👌 pic.twitter.com/LJtTmxYbzD

  • In the third quarter, the Celtics started to pull away. At one point, they went on a 25-11 run to go up by 13 points ad 80-67. Tatum scored eight points and continued his strong passing night to get up to 10 assists.

    Boston Celtics on X (formerly Twitter): "Plays like this are what makes Jrue great 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/p2kwR7pQRB / X"

    Plays like this are what makes Jrue great 👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/p2kwR7pQRB

  • Dallas ripped off a 7-0 run to cut the deficit back down to six with the final seconds ticking away in the third, but that’s when Celtics guard Payton Pritchard woke up the whole arena. Pritchard heaved it from nearly half-court and made the Hail Mary shot, putting the C’s back up by nine entering the fourth quarter at 83-74, and drawing the loudest pop of the series so far.

    Boston Celtics on X (formerly Twitter): "WHO ELSE pic.twitter.com/b5lWgkkZIG / X"

    WHO ELSE pic.twitter.com/b5lWgkkZIG

  • The Celtics pulled back away to lead by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, after a White steal set up a Holiday three-pointer, then White drained a triple of his own to make it 103-89 Celtics.

    However, the Mavericks wouldn’t go away quietly. They rattled off a 9-0 run to make it 103-98 C’s with just 1:15 left in regulation, then had the ball with a chance to cut further into the deficit.

    But then, White delivered a clutch blocked shot and Holiday pulled down the rebound, and Brown took it the other way to lay it in and put the Celtics back up seven with 30 seconds left. That’s how the score would hold, as the Celtics take their 2-0 lead to Dallas.

    Boston Celtics on X (formerly Twitter): "DERRICK WHITE 🚫 pic.twitter.com/K40AaqRCTk / X"

    DERRICK WHITE 🚫 pic.twitter.com/K40AaqRCTk

    Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Celtics and Mavericks takes place Wednesday night at American Airlines Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.

    Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.

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