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\u201c[Mazzulla] said, \u2018Keep it very short,\u2019 \u201d Murray quipped.<\/span><\/p>\nBut when asked about Murray during his press conference prior to Wednesday\u2019s game against the Heat, Mazzulla strayed from his own advice and shared his admiration for the Eagles\u2019 new coach.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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Get Starting Point<\/span><\/p>\nA guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cI\u2019m happy that he gets the opportunity,\u201d Mazzulla said. \u201cThe opportunity to be a head coach is obviously the dream, part of what we all do. So, he\u2019s been great for us. He\u2019s been to practices, I\u2019ve been to his practices. He\u2019s smart.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI 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\u2019ve learned a ton from him, so I\u2019m happy he gets the opportunity. He\u2019s made me a better coach, so I\u2019m grateful for that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nTatum nominated<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum<\/b> is one of 12 finalists for the NBA\u2019s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. On the surface, the nomination is surprising considering Tatum missed this season\u2019s first 62 games as he recovered from the Achilles injury he suffered last May.<\/span><\/p>\nBut Tatum was a visible presence around the team throughout his rehabilitation. He attended most practices when he was not even able to participate, sat in film sessions, and joined his teammates on road trips.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt means a lot being recognized for something like that,\u201d Tatum said. \u201cI 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.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cEarly on when I wasn\u2019t, I obviously couldn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nTatum said rehab can feel monotonous and isolating, so every moment around the rest of the team helped uplift him. He hoped his teammates appreciated his presence, too.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThat kind of still made me feel like I was part of something,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\nPraise for Brown<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
While Tatum was out, forward Jaylen Brown <\/b>willingly and eagerly stepped into the role of primary scorer and has put together the most dominant offensive season of his career. He enters Friday\u2019s game against the Bucks averaging 28.8 points and seven rebounds per game, both career highs, and he has positioned himself to earn first-team All-NBA recognition for the first time. <\/span><\/p>\nTatum, for one, has admired his fellow All-Star.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI thought it was special,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously, 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\u2019s what he\u2019s been able to do this year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAdam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n