In part one of this two-part conversation, Sam Cassell shared how the Boston Celtics adapted in the wake of losing core roster members, including Jayson Tatum, while he rehabs from a torn Achilles. He also explained what makes Joe Mazzulla special, and whether he's still pursuing head-coaching opportunities.
In part two, Cassell offered insight into the Celtics' roster. He shared his perspective on everything from reintegrating Tatum to what stands out to him watching Jaylen Brown this season. He also discussed how gratifying it is for him to see Boston's younger players take the next step forward in their careers.
Regarding Tatum, that's an individual Cassell has worked closely with since joining the Celtics in a coaching capacity. Seeing the six-time All-Star relentlessly attack his rehab mirrors his commitment to honing his craft.
"He's getting back to who he was," said Cassell in an interview lightly edited for clarity and grammar. It's going to be some work that has to be done, but he's not afraid to do the work. That's the thing about it. The kid works. And people just don't know that about him. He works. He works on his game. He's a joy to be around. He's definitely a superstar. And you know, when he's coming back, who knows? Is he ready? I can't say if he's ready because I'm not Jayson. He'll tell us when he's ready. If it's this year, if it's next year, we are just waiting to see what's going on."
Reintegrating Jayson Tatum
As Tatum has reiterated, he's taking his road to recovery one day at a time. One must also respect the fluidity of the situation. If he isn't ready mentally or, God forbid, there's a setback, then it could delay his return. With that said, the matchup between the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on Mar. 1, getting flexed into a prime-time national TV window on NBC raises eyebrows.
NBC also announced that it will release a docuseries called "The Quiet Work." Over the course of five installments, the series will follow Tatum as he continues his rehab. The docuseries will air on Sunday nights on NBC.
That combination makes Mar. 1 the clubhouse leader for when the five-time All-NBA selection will next step out onto the TD Garden parquet in uniform.
And while there has been much chatter about how Tatum would fit in if he returns this season, he's a cerebral star and one of the most adaptable high-pedigreed players in league history. It also helps that he has remained present and involved throughout this season. Add it all up, and Cassell isn't concerned about reintegrating him when the time comes.
"Jayson will fit in wherever he has to fit in," voiced Cassell. "But Jayson Tatum is a star, too. Jaylen Brown is a star. So, he'll fit right into whatever we're doing, and we'll fit right into the things that he does best. That shouldn't be a problem either. We'll make it work. We'll figure it out."
What stands out to Cassell about Jaylen Brown
Like Tatum, winning is what matters most to Brown. He has always been a team player who's willing to sacrifice what it takes to help Boston's championship pursuit. Still, who wouldn't want the chance to be their best selves? To test the limits of and showcase their full potential?
Brown is finally getting that opportunity this season. He has responded by elevating his play and that of those around him, acting as a rising tide that lifts all boats.
The five-time All-Star, who earned his first career start in the NBA's marquee exhibition event this year, is averaging 29.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per contest. He is shooting nearly 50 percent from beyond the arc, generating the second-most drives per contest, and ranks in the top six in makes from the mid-range, per NBA.com.
His production has placed him in the conversation for the league's MVP award. What stands out to Cassell while watching Brown this season?
"He's done a good job making the right reads. He's done a good job of scoring, but he's done whatever we need him to do in basketball games," conveyed Cassell. "It's a credit to him. We always want to be better, but he actually is being better. He's having one of the great individual seasons in Celtics history.
"He's playing good basketball for us. He understands the role he has to take on. He understands how good he has to be. Not just some nights, every night. And that doesn't mean him scoring the basketball. He's had some games where he has 13 rebounds, 12 rebounds; that's the part that stands out to me with Jaylen Brown -- and passing the ball. Scoring the ball, that's the easiest thing he can do. That's the best thing he feels comfortable with. So, I don't have a problem with him doing that, but I praise him for the other things he's doing. Rebounding, individual defense, weak-side defense. That's what I love praising."
From one guard to another
Derrick White touches the ball more than anyone else on Boston over the course of a game. He has responded to that with one of the Association's best assist-to-turnover ratios. The ninth-year guard consistently ensures that his team is creating quality shots. And while people fixate on his low conversion rate from beyond the arc [32.5 percent], he's still averaging 17.2 points per contest.
At the other end of the floor, the two-time All-Defensive team selection remains one of the best and most impactful players at that end of the floor. He's such an effective shot blocker that the Celtics will deploy him as a roamer, trusting him to protect the rim. Consistently, he rewards their faith in him to perform that job. The only player listed as a guard with more blocks than him is Scottie Barnes, who is four inches taller.
Cassell, a former All-NBA guard, loves White's temperament and his persistence. He also appreciates the fact that the coaching staff can give him any assignment and have confidence in his ability to execute it at a high level.
"D. White, he's a good ballplayer, man. That's all. The only thing he cares about is winning," expressed Cassell. All he cares about is winning. We win, he's fine. If we lose, he's not in a good mood. He knows he has got to get better. He doesn't feel no pressure. He's just playing basketball, and he's playing hard. He does everything we need him to do and more. Sometimes, everybody has bad moments, but he just fights through the bad moments. That's what I commend him about, fighting through the bad moments and continuing to play every game."
Incorporating Nikola Vucevic
In his first three games with the Celtics, Nikola Vucevic is contributing 13.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, including 3.3 at the offensive end, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per contest. The two-time All-Star is also knocking down 41.7 percent of the 4.0 threes he's hoisting.
Along with giving Boston a floor-spacing center, Vucevic draws double teams down low. His passing ability turns that extra attention into quality shots for his teammates.
He also stabilizes the center position and will help his new team match up with the size and physicality of their potential playoff opponents. As Brad Stevens noted a day after the trade deadline, "that was a move done in large part to balance out our positional needs with."
"He understands how to play," stated Cassell. "You get used to playing with guys, and it's hard. People don't understand how hard it is sometimes. You get traded to a team that's pretty good and has a system already intact, and you have got to pick that up. So, you're always going to feel like you're a step or two behind. I've been there before, but we got 20-plus games left, and he'll be fine. He'll be fine. He'll get his groove with us, and we'll see what happens. We're looking forward to it."
The joy the Celtics' youth movement brings Cassell
As Cassell shared in part one of this conversation, he takes tremendous pride in watching younger players find their footing in the NBA and seeing them grow on and off the court. He's drawing that satisfaction from watching the careers of individuals like Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman, Neemias Queta, and first-round pick Hugo Gonzalez blossom.
"Opportunities," emphasized Cassell. "Opportunities. And they had to earn opportunities every night to get another opportunity. And those guys have been playing, and they've been doing their job. They do their job. We expect our guys to do their job. Do their job the right way and in a respectable way. And they've been doing their job.
"They play hard. They play for each other. They are great communicators. They just -- they do what they do. They make mistakes, and they expect to make mistakes. They're young. We're doing a good job with coaching them. They're having a good year, but the year's not over yet. They had a great first part of the year. Now, we just have got to see how it continues."
As the younger members of the roster figure out and execute what it takes to get them on the floor and how they can contribute to winning, Cassell's message to that group is simple.
"We just need those guys to play hard. They play hard and understand our game plan. That's the only thing we really require from them. The opportunity has rewards, and every day they know they have got to fight to get more opportunities. That's it."