Boston Celtics champion Jayson Tatum opened up about head coach Steve Kerr’s choice to not play him in Staff USA’s Olympic-opening win over Serbia, calling the expertise “humbling.”
Not many purchased Kerr’s clarification about “combos,” particularly after the Individuals defeated Serbia by 26 factors. Celtics legend Paul Pierce gave a extra easy, but deeper purpose on Friday’s episode of “Undisputed.”
“I do not assume this was humbling. This was extra like a slap within the face,” Pierce mentioned. “Take into consideration this. After the sport, Kerr was like, what was the phrase he used? He felt unhealthy. Felt like an fool, and then you definately try to sit (Joel) Embiid within the subsequent recreation to type of justify it. Like, ‘Look, I sat the MVP.’ Nah, that ain’t what this was.”
When requested what he thought the actual purpose was, Pierce did not hesitate to share that it has extra to do with the NBA staff Tatum performs for than the participant himself.
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“Simply Celtic hate — good previous Celtic hate,” he mentioned. “That is all it is ever been.”
Pierce doubled down along with his reasoning even after it was identified that the 2 different Celtics gamers — Jrue Vacation and Derrick White — have been getting minutes regardless of sporting inexperienced through the NBA season.
“If you end up the man for the Celtics, there’s numerous hate,” Pierce mentioned. “I do know from first-hand expertise. Jaylen Brown, he cannot even get in. He cannot even get on the staff, Finals MVP. Take into consideration this, there isn’t any staff on planet Earth that Jayson Tatum should not get minutes on. No staff on planet Earth. All-Star, USA. This man is coming off a championship; he is been first-team All-NBA for 3 straight years.
“You understand what which means? I am one of many 5 finest gamers on the planet. On the planet for the final three years. Folks assume I am one of many 5 finest gamers on the planet, and I am unable to get in a recreation? … Let me inform you one thing: Jayson Tatum matches up with everyone. … He is athletically gifted sufficient to protect all these positions. Humbling as he might put it, yeah, he can say these phrases, however I am gonna say this was an insult. Pure insult to a participant of his caliber.”
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Tatum has began the final two contests for Staff USA in opposition to South Sudan and Puerto Rico. Within the first matchup, the Celtics ahead had 4 factors, two assists and 5 rebounds. Towards Puerto Rico, he simply missed a double-double with 10 factors and 9 rebounds. Tatum added three assists and two steals to his very good stat line in Staff USA’s 104-83 victory.
Staff USA has secured an undefeated 3-0 run in Group C to maneuver on to the quarterfinal spherical. Canada (Group A) and Germany (Group B) additionally went undefeated in group play. The Individuals will tackle Brazil on Tuesday for his or her first recreation of the quarterfinals.
