After weeks of drama, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has reasserted himself as the team’s leader, on and off the court, writes Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
“My teammates, my coaches and everyone we play know what I’m capable of,” Tatum said on a night he scored 32 points but the Celtics lost 107-104 to the Mavericks. “It’s a long season and we have a lot of games to play, obviously. You see everything people say and you hear everything, but that’s part of it. I should be worried if you guys stop talking about me. That would be a problem. But it’s part of the business, part of what I do, and take it with a grain of salt.”
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Nets starting center Blake Griffin enjoyed his best night of the season against his former club, the Pistons. Griffin, who scored 13 points and five rebounds, appears to be overcoming his early struggles in the season, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “We love that Blake brings it and gives us that physicality,” said head coach Steve Nash. “He’s also a very intelligent player, so he’s taking charges, fighting on the glass and understands our concepts defensively.”
- With the Sixers‘ 114-105 victory over the Bulls, head coach Doc Rivers earned his 1,000th win as a coach, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Across his 23 combined seasons coaching the Magic, Celtics, Clippers and now Philadelphia, Rivers has posted a 1,000-706 record. The Sixers currently lead the Eastern Conference with an 8-2 record on the young season, despite several key player absences for multiple games.
- The impressive play of Knicks reserve guard Derrick Rose could result in fewer minutes for starter Kemba Walker, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. Head coach Tom Thibodeau most recently played Rose for 31 minutes while restricting Walker to just 15 in a 113-98 comeback win over the Bucks. Walker, who has struggled with knee injuries in recent years, will be resting tonight against the Cavaliers in the first of New York’s back-to-back games this season, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Twitter link).
Congrats to Doc on his 1000th win. He’s doing a phenomenal job right now in Philly.
Agree …. Congrats Doc
Blake Griffen is getting it together, or he had a good game against one of the worst teams in the NBA he was motivated for, which could it be?
It would be nice if Griffin could finally get a ring after suffering so long in LA playing with Chris Paul, who has really taken away any chance the Suns had of winning a championship when they extended him instead of Ayton.
Incredible take. I’m impressed at how much wrong, you can fit in a small space.
Classic WallyWorld.
What would you call todays performance against Toronto then? Luck?
You want a trade that will wake the NBA up.
Wood and Wall >>>> to Celtics …..
Smart, Horford, Langford, Hermangomez,
Two #1 picks >>>> to Rockets
Berman only knows how to be a troll. One thing Knicks are is a TEAM. And it really wouldn’t matter who starts. Rose is best off the bench. I guess Berman doesn’t watch Knicks. Cause Rose has been closing most games. Knicks strength is their depth. So there will never be a controversy under Thibs. Cause we are not a good team if we don’t go ten deep. Kemba does have to play better. But it’s too early for criticism. He’ll come along just fine. If you remember him at Charlotte. He was more ball dominant. That’s what I’d like to see more. Just more padding and less looking for your shot. We are deep enough to that he just needs to run offense first.
Kemba is figuring out his role … Hope he got less min in close games cause his D is pooh pooh
Like Marcus just want to say to Tatum u suck !!!!
Tatum very much reminds me of Melo.
No don’t say that …..