Celtics win without Jayson Tatum against Nets

Jayson Tatum is considered one of the top players in the NBA. This season, he has been very consistent, averaging 27.1 points per game, making it one of his best seasons yet. Opposing teams find it challenging to defend against him, as they know they cannot totally stop him but must find ways to manage his impact. Recently, the Boston Celtics won two games against the Brooklyn Nets. In their first match on March 15, Tatum contributed significantly with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, leading the Celtics to a narrow 115-113 victory. Ahead of the next game on March 18, Nets coach Jordi Fernandez spoke about the difficulty of guarding Tatum, saying, “I don’t know how to guard him. He’s too good.” He emphasized the need for a team effort in defense since Tatum attracts a lot of attention. In the following game, the Celtics did not even need Tatum to win. Coach Joe Mazzulla decided to sit him out, and the Celtics still won 104-96. Rookie Baylor Scheierman stepped up, scoring a career-high 20 points, showcasing the team's depth. The Boston Celtics are currently performing well in the league, holding the second seed in the Eastern Conference and achieving their 50th win of the season. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets are struggling, sitting 13th with a record of 23-46 and looking toward the NBA Draft Lottery. Despite their challenges, Fernandez noted that the Nets are still focused on winning games and have recently defeated another team, the LA Lakers. The Celtics will not face the Nets again this season as they aim for greater success.