The Boston Celtics picked up a big victory on Friday night, as they grinded out a 109-102 victory over the red-hot Atlanta Hawks. With Jaylen Brown missing this game, Jayson Tatum has to take on a larger load, and he put together his best outing since making his return from a torn Achilles tendon (26 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST, 8/24 FGM).
While Tatum is still shaking off the rust, head coach Joe Mazzulla isn't exactly easing him into the process, which is an encouraging sign. Part of Tatum's return has seen him get utilized in a new role as a small-ball center, which has led to some good results on the offensive side of the ball. When asked about this new wrinkle, Tatum opened up on what he's looking to do when he finds himself in this role.
"Just playing basketball and making the right reads," Tatum said. "Finding who’s on the court, playing to our strengths, matchups that we kind of want to attack and manipulate, and make the right read."
There's no doubt that Tatum has struggled to find his jumper since returning to action, but he's made up for it with his rebounding and playmaking skills. Tatum is currently averaging a career-high 9.5 rebounds per game, and his recognition of what defenses are throwing at him remains high, even if he isn't posting gaudy assist totals.
This isn't the first time Mazzulla has rolled out a small-ball lineup with Tatum as the biggest guy on the court, but the results so far indicate that this could be something we see more and more of as the year goes on. Boston will face off against another tough Eastern Conference team on Sunday, as a matchup with the Charlotte Hornets awaits them.
More NBA: Surging Celtics Cool Off Two Of NBA's Hottest Teams With Stunning Wins