Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was speaking during his media availability Tuesday, one day before Game 3 of the NBA Finals, and sparked up a conversation with a Brazilian reporter towards the end of it. In the conversation, Mazzulla was asking about the Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar and how the media harshly criticizes him like they do for Celtics star Jayson Tatum.
“The lens with which Brazilian soccer players are looked at is very similar to how American athletes are looked at by their media,” Mazzulla said in reference to Neymar and Tatum according to NBC Sports Celtics.
There is no doubt that Neymar experiences a brunt of negativity as he is the leading player for a country that always has lofty expectations for their soccer team. Mazzulla is known to be a fan of Brazilian soccer and said during the conversation that it is the same for Tatum and that he has looked into the view of how the media talks about Neymar.
“I would say the same thing for Tatum,” Mazzulla said. “I study that a lot because I think we're in a similar environment here as to how to handle all of that.”
Mazzulla doubles down on comparison between Tatum and Neymar
The outside noise has been especially loud as the Celtics are in the NBA Finals so it was interesting to see Mazzulla tackle the topic head on during his media availability. He would ask the Brazilian reporter a few questions during the few minutes they had:
“Well, that’s probably why you asked that question and none of the American [media] because they look at the lens differently in basketball and so in America, nothing’s ever good enough and it’s always about what can you do for me right now?” Mazzulla asked.
“Who do you think had the hardest adjustment to the media and the criticism [between Neymar and Tatum]?” Mazzulla also asked.
When talking about the outside noise as mentioned before, it of course has been especially loud for Tatum during the NBA Finals as the highly-talented player has experienced back-to-back outings where he is not the leading scorer. However, he has been exceptional in cleaning the glass and being a play maker where he has collected 20 rebounds and recorded 17 assists, 12 of them being in Game 2.
Mazzulla doesn't believe Tatum is “tacking backseat” for the Celtics
For Mazzulla, the concept and narrative of Tatum “taking a backseat” is perplexing to him saying he is “making the right play” according to 985thesportshub.com.
“I think it’s unfortunate first that making the right play is looked at as taking a backseat,” Mazzull said. “I don’t think he’s taking a backseat at all, I think he’s actually been more aggressive by welcoming two-on-ones, welcoming opportunities to make plays and finding the right balance. So I think we just look at it differently. I don’t think he’s taken a backseat, I think he’s been super aggressive in manipulating the defense, taking what the defense gives him, and making the right play.”
“It’s the classic case of if you make a couple,” Mazzulla continued on how Tatum could get out of shooting slump. “I thought he got some great looks at layups that I thought just kind of rimmed out, I thought he got great looks. And if those go in, it’s a complete dominant performance. But I just love his mindset. He goes into every game just figuring out how the defense is guarding him and how he can make the greatest impact. He’s just been amazing for us on both ends of the floor. We’ve got to continue that.”
Jason Kidd calls Tatum “one of the best players in the world”
Besides the media, there could have been a case where Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd stirred the pot where he called Tatum's partner in crime Jaylen Brown Boston's “best player” before Game 2. However, Kidd would say Tuesday that Tatum is “one of the best players in the world.”
“He's one of the best players in the world, so you're trying to just make it tough,” Kidd said via NBA TV. “And that's all you can do, is hopefully guard the first move, guard the second move, guard the third move, and contest. And guys are doing that at a high rate, and just trying to make it tough on him.”
At any rate, there should be more worry on the Mavericks who are down 0-2 to Boston in the series with their most important game of the entire season Wednesday night. Game 3 will be in enemy territory for the Celtics as they head into Dallas looking for a 3-0 series lead.
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