BOSTON — Jayson Tatum is, arguably, one of the nicest, well-liked players in the NBA. I’m guessing, in terms of superstars, he would be No. 1.
Off the court he’s got no issues. No arrests. No court dates. No nothing.
In fact, his obsession with fatherhood — he has a four-year old son, Deuce — wins him points big-time with the vast majority of NBA fans.
But in late April, May and June, none of that matters inside the black lines.
Exhibit A: The foul committed by Caleb Martin with 59.1 seconds remaining in Game 1. Martin leveled Tatum, who was going for the defensive rebound, and Tatum’s legs went flying like over him and his lower back and hips landed hard on the parquet floor.
It was ugly as much as it was brutal.
Tatum stayed down for a second, wincing in pain, before popping up faster than expected, obviously not happy.
Martin, who was among a few unsung Celtics “killers” last May, had had non-productive Game 1 until that point with four points in 29 minutes.
Controversy swirled after the game when Martin said he was pushed by Jrue Holiday, which may have happened, but only slightly.
Celtics analyst Brian Scalabrine opined that during a timeout with 30 seconds earlier, challenging a foul called against Jaylen Brown, that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra probably instructed his players to make sure the Celtics, leading 108-94, “feel” the final 90 seconds.
I agree.
The Celtics may have miffed the Heat, leaving their starters in for the entire fourth quarter, despite leading by 31 at one point, 101-70, with 7:49 remaining.
The Celtics starters appeared to get a little lazy and the Heat went on a piping hot run of 22-5 to make it 106-92 with 2:52 remaining.
Mind you, there is history here. and I’m not talking Celtics-Heat. I’m talking Celtics-Lakers, when Pat Riley, the Lakers president was coaching.
It was during the 1984 NBA Finals, Game 4, in Englewood, Calif. The Lakers were leading the series 2-1 and ready to take control.
But Celtics forward Kevin McHale closelined Kurt Rambis, who was going in for a dunk.
Like Tatum, Rambis’ legs flew in the air before he hit the court. He didn’t suffer any injuries.
The Lakers and Celtics benches emptied and mayhem ensued for more than five minutes.
McHale was only called for a foul. He was not ejected.
The Celtics ended up winning three of the next four games after the incident, including the 129-125 Game 4 win overtime.
Riley called that one of the great Celtic “cheap shots” of all time.
Well, fast-forward to 2024.
Riley’s protégé is Spoelstra. Like Brad Stevens has tried to do with Joe Mazzulla, Riley has been in Spoeltra’s ear for two years as a video guy, beginning in 1995 when Riley joined the Heat as coach and team president.
In 1997, Spoelstra became an assistant coach on the bench and in 2008 he replaced Riley on the bench as head coach.
Riley’s career-long hatred of the Celtics is well-documented, going back to his career as a player on the Lakers from 1971 to 1975.
Then, of course, Riley’s career as head coach of the Lakers when was front and center with the greatest rivalry of the 1980s with the Celtics.
Did Spoelstra specifically send Martin, a role player, to end the playoffs of the best player on the best team?
No.
But was there an indirect message, from above, that the Heat, missing its No. 1 star Jimmy Butler, will need to impose their will on the Celtics if this is going to be any kind of series?
My guess? Absolutely.
Everyone was coy on both sides with Martin saying he was pushed and no ill will on his behalf, and coach Mazzulla saying he “enjoyed” the incident, whatever that means.
Whatever the case, the Celtics got a wakeup call. So did Tatum.
This is not going to be easy, even when it oftentimes looks easy.
The Lakers never hit back at the Celtics in 1984, other than a cheap foul by James Worthy.
McHale’s hit may have changed the course of that epic seven-game series.
Ironically, McHale, Larry Bird and Robert Parish were at the game on Sunday, the first time the trio had been together in Boston since 1998, Parish’s retirement ceremony.
When it comes to events like that, it’s better to give than to receive.
Celtics sixth man Payton Pritchard was asked about his thoughts on the Martin hit on the Celtics star.
“I think we liked that,” he said after practice on Tuesday. “I think it was a joy to see that and what it’s going to be like moving forward. We’re ready for that.”
Stay tuned.
You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.