“[Mazzulla] said, ‘Keep it very short,’ ” Murray quipped.
But when requested about Murray throughout his press convention previous to Wednesday’s recreation towards the Heat, Mazzulla strayed from his personal advice and shared his admiration for the Eagles’ new coach.
“I’m happy that he gets the opportunity,” Mazzulla mentioned. “The opportunity to be a head coach is obviously the dream, part of what we all do. So, he’s been great for us. He’s been to practices, I’ve been to his practices. He’s smart.
“I mean, he helps run one of the best offenses in the country at the collegiate level and really has to think the game and how they build a language. I’ve learned a ton from him, so I’m happy he gets the opportunity. He’s made me a better coach, so I’m grateful for that.”
Tatum nominated
Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum is considered one of 12 finalists for the NBA’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. On the floor, the nomination is shocking contemplating Tatum missed this season’s first 62 video games as he recovered from the Achilles damage he suffered final May.
But Tatum was a visual presence across the crew all through his rehabilitation. He attended most practices when he was not even in a position to take part, sat in movie classes, and joined his teammates on street journeys.
“It means a lot being recognized for something like that,” Tatum mentioned. “I told these guys before I came back they were a part of this rehab and motivating factor to get back, just being around the team all season and seeing the way they competed and attacked the season, and the togetherness they played with. I told them I wanted to be part of that.
“Early on when I wasn’t, I obviously couldn’t practice and stuff like that, and I was rehabbing and working out, it was in the back of my mind that I wanted, clearly, to get out of my situation. And just being around the guys really helped me with my mind-set, my mental, still made me feel like I was a part of the team. So, that was big for me.”
Tatum mentioned rehab can really feel monotonous and isolating, so each second round the remainder of the crew helped uplift him. He hoped his teammates appreciated his presence, too.
“That kind of still made me feel like I was part of something,” he mentioned.
Praise for Brown
While Tatum was out, ahead Jaylen Brown willingly and eagerly stepped into the function of main scorer and has put collectively probably the most dominant offensive season of his profession. He enters Friday’s recreation towards the Bucks averaging 28.8 factors and 7 rebounds per recreation, each profession highs, and he has positioned himself to earn first-team All-NBA recognition for the primary time.
Tatum, for one, has admired his fellow All-Star.
“I thought it was special,” he mentioned. “Obviously, somebody that has always been capable and was just in an opportunity where more was required from everybody, but obviously especially him. I think a lot of times the NBA is about opportunity, and guys really make the most out of the special ones, and that’s what he’s been able to do this year.”
Adam Himmelsbach could be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.
