Sixers coach Nick Nurse talks game planning for Celtics' Jayson Tatum

CAMDEN, N.J. -- As the Philadelphia 76ers head into the playoffs against the Boston Celtics, they will need to account for a number of different aspects in this series. Boston is a dangerous team that can get hot in a hurry and can hit teams with an avalanche on the offensive end of the floor.

One of those aspects for the Sixers is Celtics star Jayson Tatum who was unavailable for the four matchups between the teams in the regular season as he was recovering from his torn Achilles in the 2025 playoffs. The superstar forward has made a remarkable recovery and has looked good in the 16 games he played in his return, averaging 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.

For Sixers coach Nick Nurse, prepping for Tatum is nothing new. He has, obviously, seen him plenty of times. He and his staff just need to get it right.

"I mean, listen, we've certainly played against him a lot in the past, and he's a great player, right?" Nurse said at practice on Friday. "I mean, you've had to work really hard to scheme for him. I mean, just again, the things that he can do, especially with the perimeter shooting he brings from range, and just, I think, the footwork, the skill work, the hits and turnarounds, and there's a lot to guard there. So again, we've been through it a lot with them."

Tatum can do it all on the floor. Although his efficiency hasn't been great since he's returned--41.1% from the floor and 32.9% from deep which are both below his career norms--he is still a handful. There will be a lot that Nurse and the staff will have to game plan for ahead of Game 1 on Sunday afternoon.

"We've dug pretty deeply on this, on him, and feel like we got a good game plan going in," Nurse added. "We'll see. I think you think here's what you're going to do, and here's your matchups, and then you kind of got to see as the game unfolds for us, for sure, and then as the series unfolds, what may or may not be the case."

It also helps Nurse that he will have Paul George ready to go for this contest. The 9-time All-Star was unable to play in any of the four matchups for and he will play a big role against both Tatum and on the perimeter.