Why Jayson Tatum refuses to underestimate 76ers after Game 1 beatdown

BOSTON — Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has battled the rival Philadelphia 76ers a lot in his NBA career. So, one would think that he might tease them a bit after a win, especially a 123-91 blowout in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series. However, following the wire-to-wire victory on Sunday afternoon, Tatum did the opposite. The six-time All-Star, who finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists in just 32 minutes against the Sixers, had high praise for his opponents. He recognized that they were missing star center Joel Embiid due to surgery recovery and that they still have talent with stars like point guard Tyrese Maxey and forward Paul George. "Philly has had guys miss some time, (so) that they're not a traditional seventh seed, they're a really, really talented team, great coaching staff," Tatum complimented postgame. "Nick Nurse is a championship coach." Tatum isn't known for trolling other teams, even when it comes to a fanbase that's grown to hate everything green (except for the Philadelphia Eagles' jerseys and the iconic Phillie Phanatic mascot). That makes his kind words unsurprising. And whether it's genuine admiration or a little bit of gamesmanship, Tatum believes the Sixers will bounce back in Game 2 on Tuesday night and challenge the C's. "They've just got some really talented guys, some guys that play hard and so you have to show them that respect, knowing that they're going to play better next game," Tatum stated. "Next game is going to be tougher, they're going to make adjustments, and (we're) just preparing for that."