Rookie Tatum earns veteran praise

CELTICS NOTEBOOK

Jayson Tatum hit his first four shots yesterday, missed 10 of his next 13, and came back with a reverse layup in overtime that was as big a playoff shot as a rookie could hope for.

Tatum finished with a little of everything in his playoff debut — 19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals, five turnovers and the biggest block of the night when he came back from throwing the ball away to reject Malcolm Brogdon under the basket in overtime.

As much as anyone in the Celtics’ 113-107 Game 1 win over Milwaukee, Tatum lived up to the moment.

“Not at all (surprised). I’ve said it — I expect him to do well. I’m around him every day,” Marcus Morris said of the player he has called his “little brother.”

“Calling him ‘rook’ is the only rookie thing about him.”

And even at that, perhaps Tatum has shed his rookie classification a little early.

“Very impressed. He was very composed,” said Al Horford. “Obviously, he made some mistakes but he did a lot more good than bad. He was just very poised, making the right plays, great defensive plays, big rebounds. I was impressed by the way that he was getting in there and getting some tough rebounds there. Just shows the kind of player that he is. Not only on offense but he’s impacting the game on the defensive end, too.”

Greek speaks out

Though he was smart enough not to direct his frustration at an official, Giannis Antetokounmpo let the crowd know about it upon fouling out with 13 seconds left after making contact with Terry Rozier while attempting to rebound his own missed free throw. The Bucks forward ran down the floor, throwing a punch at the air.

“I don’t think it was a foul — I grabbed the ball, but the ref said I grabbed his hands,” he said. “I just got to live with that call and move forward, because that’s what players do. Hopefully, next time, I can knock down the free throw and not get into that situation.”

Smart matters

Before yesterday’s game there was a positive sign regarding some future C’s depth.

Marcus Smart took the floor for some shooting. His goal for a return remains roughly the same — Game 7 of this series against the Bucks, if it lasts that long, or the second round, if the Celtics last that long.

“We’re optimistic, but we’re not going to rush anything,” said the Celtics guard. “We’re going to take it slow. So I think I have another doctor’s appointment, checkup, in the next two weeks. We’ll see what she says. If she clears us to be able to start a little bit earlier, than we might. But as of right now, Game 7 (or the) second round is the (goal).”

Smart was outfitted with a new splint on his surgically repaired thumb yesterday, one better accustomed to doing things with a basketball.

“It’s going well. I’m trying to stay in shape. (Yesterday) was the first day with the new splint on to actually get out here and do something,” he said. “So the thumb felt well. And like I said, we’re on track for the next three weeks, possibly Game 7 of the first round, definitely second round. So we’re on the right path.”

The right path, albeit with common sense.

“I’ve got hopes. We’re very optimistic. But the last thing we want to do is get out there and rush anything and we’re back to square one,” said Smart. “So right now the timetable is still the same. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks things change and we can move it up earlier. But for right now it’s going to stay the same.”