Eric Spoelstra praises ‘unique’ Jason Tatum appeared in the original NBC Sports Boston
Miami Heat coach Eric Spoelstra is no stranger to the challenge of keeping Boston Celtics star Jason Tatum in check.
Spoelstra will face Tatum’s C in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row and the third time in the last four seasons. Miami got the series back in the NBA bubble again in 2020, but the Celtics got their revenge in the 2022 playoffs.
It’s time for the Celtics-Heat to be included among the best rivalries in the NBA
Tatum averaged 25.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.6 in last year’s seven game series. Heading into the rematch, Spoelstra shared the high praise for the four-time All-Star.
“Tatum is very unique,” Spoelstra said before Game 1 on Wednesday. “That’s why he’s one of the best players on the planet. He has that attacking nature, but he can also light you up from behind the line depending on how the game goes.
“You have to compete more than anything else. It’s not schematic – it’s part of it. But when you’re dealing with great players, you have to find a way to beat it.”
Even if Miami does manage to slow Tatum down, the Celtics have a second-team All-NBA Jillin Brown to bear the burden. Reducing both stars would be the key to seed #8’s heat to disturbing #2C.
“Easier said than done,” Spoelstra said. According to ESPN’s Nick Friedel. “You have to do your job early. The Weakside Defenders need to be in position early… They’re a very good leadership team because of those two guys.” [Tatum and Brown] Fold your defense and then you have your spacing, and they’re very disciplined with their spacing, with a 40 percent range of 3-point shooters.
“You have to scramble and make multiple efforts — there’s no easy way, but there is a way. You have to commit to those kinds of efforts.”
Celtics-Heat Game 1 is set for a tip-off at 8:30 PM ET at TD Garden.