Brown scratched with sore left knee
Tatum plans to do either 3-point contest or skills challenge at All-Star Weekend
Preservation for the playoffs continues to be an overriding policy, as evidenced by Jaylen Brown’s scratch for Sunday’s game against the Wizards.
The decision was made after the Celtics’ guard reported soreness in his left knee — a recurring issue — following Friday’s win over Indiana.
Minutes control, including for minutes leader Jayson Tatum (35.5 per game), will remain in effect, with the goal of starting the postseason with a healthy roster.
“We’re going to do pretty much what we’ve done, with regards to minutes,” said BrAD StEvEns. “I’m not going to overdo KEmBA (WAlker)’s, Jayson’s been our highest minutes player, and I don’t want to have to go as high as we’ve gone but, obviously, there’s a challenge that comes with that when one of those guys are out. Jaylen’s going to be out tonight. He was a little bit sore yesterday, his knee flared up a little bit. Very much day-to-day.
But will be out tonight.”
All-Starring role
Tatum has every intention of getting heavily involved in AllStar festivities beyond the game itself — to which he was named as a replacement starter for Kevin Durant.
But the choice will be difficult, as he weighs whether to compete in the 3-point contest or defend his skills challenge title from last
year’s game.
“Definitely not doing both,” said Tatum. “I think I’m sure I’ll participate in one of them — not the dunk contest.”
Bouncing back
Tatum is admittedly looking forward to the AllStar break, even if his chill time is about to be interrupted by the actual game. Despite his heavy minutes, and though Tatum has talked of feeling the effects of a slow recovery from COVID, he’s not complaining.
“I’m feeling pretty good. I’m feeling better. I mean, it’s a long season, but for the most part, no complaints,” he said. “The guys who came off the bench played really well last game. Obviously Kemba played great, and he’s really starting to look like himself. I think it’s important for the starters to really start the game off well. We didn’t do that last game in the first couple minutes, but after that first timeout we regrouped and started playing like we know we can.”
Gee, Wizards
Though the Celtics played one of their worst games in a mediocre first half of the season when they lost in Washington on Feb. 14, they were merely the start of the Wizards’ best stretch of the season.
“They’re 7-1 since we last played them, and they’re really clocking,” said Tatum. “(Robin) Lopez has been playing well when he’s come in, (Russell) Westbrook has been playing better since early in the season, and Brad (Beal) is unbelievable. He’s been very consistent all year, and they’re playing really well together.
“( Westbrook is) one of the best players in the league,” he said. “Had a slow start the beginning of the season, but no one who competes against him goes into a game and thinks that’s who he is. We know what he’s capable of. We know what he’s done in this league. Not surprised that he’s been playing really well as of late. He gets a triple-double every night, he won the MVP. One of the best players in the league. You need to take the floor knowing what guys are capable of, and he’s definitely capable of a lot.”