Category: Uncategorized

NU stars, Jema Galanza join Alas Pilipinas training

On: By: admin


FILE–National University’s Alyssa Solomon (12) and Bella Belen (4) during the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jema Galanza and National University’s Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon have joined the Alas Pilipinas practice on Wednesday morning at Philsports Arena.

Galanza, Belen, and Solomon, the new additions to the training pool, have started preparing with the AVC Challenge Cup bronze medalists ahead of the FIVB Challenger Cup from July 4 to 7 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Three-time PVL MVP Tots Carlos, however, hasn’t trained with the team yet due to a minor injury but Alas coach Jorge Souza De Brito is elated to have the newcomers as they battle Challenge Cup champion Vietnam in the do-or-die Challenger Cup game as the survivor of the tournament will qualify to the Volleyball Nations League.

READ: Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza added to Alas Pilipinas pool

De Brito said the training pool went back to basics to start their preparation for the world qualifier.

Belen and Solomon were part of the original pool but begged off in the AVC Challenge Cup due to fatigue after winning the UAAP Season 86 title for NU, while Galanza and Carlos were in a long-awaited Spain trip with Creamline booked even before the new Alas team was formed.

Jema Galanza Creamline PVL

Creamline’s Jema Galanza.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Belen won her second UAAP Season MVP, while Solomon emerged as the Season 86 Finals MVP. Galanza led Creamline to another All-Filipino title and bagged the Finals MVP.

READ: De Brito embraces higher expectations for Alas Pilipinas

University of the East rising star Casiey Dongallo is still recovering from an arm injury but she’s part of the long-term plan.

Belen, Solomon, and Galanza are joining Challenge Cup Best Setter Jia De Guzman and Best Opposite Spiker Angel Canino as well as Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure, Fifi Sharma, Thea Gagate, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Cherry Nunag, Dell Palomata, Faith Nisperos, Jennifer Nierva, Arah Panique, Julia Coronel, and Vanie Gandler.

The team recently went to South Korea for a friendly game with Daegu.

PBA: June Mar Fajardo wins 10th Best Player of Conference award

On: By: admin


San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo during the PBA Philippine Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

SCHEDULE: PBA Finals San Miguel vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo won his 10th Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award for the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup.

Fajardo was awarded the BPC plum before Game 4 of the Finals between the Beermen and the Bolts at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

Prior to Game 4, the seven-time MVP averaged 17.4 points, 14.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.

Fajardo has been playing efficiently for the Beermen this conference, shooting 52.8 percent from the field in the All-Filipino derby.

READ: PBA Finals: Shackled June Mar Fajardo key to Meralco success

Fajardo edged out BPC finalists Stephen Holt of Terrafirma and Robert Bolick of NLEX. He also leapfrogged fellow San Miguel star CJ Perez and Ginebra big man Christian Standhardinger.

Bolick, responsible for the Road Warriors’ quarterfinal stint, led the league in scoring at the end of the elimination round with 28.3 points a night while Holt is still leading the Rookie of the Year talks with 21.08 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.4 steals per outing.

With 10 BPCs in his grasp, Fajardo remained the player with the most citations of the award.

Justin Gutang joins Seoul Samsung Thunders in KBL

On: By: admin


Justin Gutang.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Justin Gutang has found a new home in the Korean Basketball League with the Seoul Samsung Thunders.

The club welcomed Gutang on Wednesday a week after the Filipino KBL import parted ways with his former team Changwon LG Sakers.

Gutang will be boosting the Thunders, who finished last in the 2023-24 season with a 14-40 record.

The College of Saint Benilde product averaged  8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game last season and led the Sakers to the semifinals but fell to finalists Suwon KT Sonicboom

Changwon bid farewell to Gutang after two seasons and signed Carl Tamayo, who will be playing in South Korea for the first time.

Khat Bell makes PH comeback with Chery Tiggo

On: By: admin


FILE–Khat Bell

MANILA, Philippines — Khat Bell makes her much-anticipated comeback in the Philippines as she bolsters Chery Tiggo’s roster in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference, which begins in July.

Chery Tiggo on Wednesday unveiled the American wing spiker as their import for the second conference after arriving in Manila hours ago from Canada.

Bell is returning after four years since she last played for the defunct Petron in the Philippine Superliga in 2020 before the season was canceled by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“I’m so excited to announce that I’m finally playing back in the Philippines for Chery Tiggo! I’ve been looking forward to come back to Manila for a very long time now, about four years since COVID, and I cannot be more excited and be happy to be back here for the fans, playing for Chery,” Bell said.

The 6-foot-2 spiker, who won two PSL Grand Prix titles with the Blaze Spikers in 2018 and 2019, is excited to team up with the players she played before with the likes Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, Mylene Paat, and Shaya Adorador and new faces Eya Laure and Jennifer Nierva, whose availability for this conference is up in the air due to their commitment to Alas Pilipinas.

“For the fans that don’t know me, I bring a lot! I bring energy, I bring a little sass, and definitely I bring a winning mentality. I’m excited to be able to come back here and perform to the best of my ability, and hopefully help Chery Tiggo get to the top,” she said.

“Even though I’m new to Chery Tiggo, I’m fortunate enough to be playing[ with the likes of] Aby. There’s a few players as well that I’m excited to see, my old players from my old team. Coming to Chery Tiggo, I’m really excited just to be here.”

Determined to win a title in her first PVL stint and end Chery Tiggo’s three-year title drought, the 31-year-old Bell urged the Chery fans to support her and the Crossovers.

“To the fans, I am so ecstatic to be back playing here for you guys. Hope you guys come out, watch the games and cheer us on. Go, Chery Tiggo,” she said. 

Bell, who is armed with her experience in the Korean V-League and American pro team Vegas Thrill, is reunited with former Petron libero Buding Duremdes and ex-deputy coach Yani Fernandez, who is now part of Chery Tiggo coach KungFu Reyes’ coaching staff.

Chery Tiggo booked its second straight trip to the semifinals last All-Filipino Conference but they lost all three matches in the round and fell to Petro Gazz in the battle for third.

Two teams have already revealed their imports including PLDT, which welcomed returning Russian spiker Elena Samoilenko.

The top four of Reinforced will also qualify in the PVL Invitational Conference in September with two foreign guest teams.

Caitlin Clark, WNBA rookies draw near-record crowds for 1st month

On: By: admin


FILE – Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark signs autographs for fans before the start of WNBA basketball game against the New York Liberty, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)

NEW YORK — The first month of the WNBA season drew its highest attendance since the league’s second season in 1998 and the best television ratings in its history, the WNBA announced Tuesday.

The figures are the latest evidence of the surging popularity of the WNBA since it added prominent rookies including Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, Chicago’s Angel Reese and Los Angeles’ Cameron Brink, all of whom drew big audiences playing in college.

Across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, ION and NBA TV, WNBA games are averaging 1.32 million viewers, nearly tripling last season’s average of 462,000, the league said on Tuesday.

WNBA: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever hope break can help turn around season

“What’s happening now in women’s basketball is confirmation of what we’ve always known: The demand is there, and women’s sports is a valuable investment,” said Colie Edison, the WNBA’s chief growth officer. “We’re encouraged by growing engagement across all our verticals, especially as we welcome new and diverse audiences into our fandom. The WNBA continues to experience sustained growth as our league embraces this heightened momentum.”

The WNBA finished May having sold out more than half its games, more than double the number of sellouts last year. Approximately 400,000 fans have attended games, the most through the first month in 26 years.

Arenas have been filled to 94% capacity, a 17% rise from last year, the league said. Some games have been moved to bigger arenas to accommodate increased fan interest, such as Clark and the Fever playing at the Washington Wizards’ downtown arena in front of 20,333 fans last Friday night instead of the Mystics’ usual venue, which seats 4,200.

On the television side, the WNBA said it saw a 96% increase in Hispanic viewers and a 67% increase in Black viewers.

Merchandise sales rose 236% from the same period last year, with Clark, Reese and Brink ranking in the top five for jersey sales during the first week of the season.

‘Natural killer’ Canino stars for Alas despite different role

On: By: admin


Alas Pilipinas’ Angel Canino (12) during the AVC Challenge Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Angel Canino may have played in an unfamiliar position as an opposite spiker in Alas Pilipinas’ historic bronze medal finish in the AVC Challenge Cup but being a “natural killer” made her shine brightly.

“She’s a natural killer,” Alas coach Jorge Souza De Brito told reporters. “You can put her in any position and she will [still] do real damage.”

Playing at the opposite didn’t stop Canino from emerging as Alas’ leading scorer throughout the Challenge Cup and earning herself the Best Opposite Spiker of the tournament to cap the country’s first AVC medal in 63 years.

READ: Angel Canino makes her parents and country proud in Alas Pilipinas debut

De Brito said the key to the former UAAP rookie MVP’s stellar play was her determination to play for the country.

“One of the most important aspects is she’s still young, she still has a long way to go in the UAAP. When I brought her inside I told her, look Angel I will try to put you in the opposite. What do you think? [She answered] No problem coach,” the Brazilian coach said. 

“[She said] no problem to be the opposite, no problem to be there, no problem to be the first six, no problem to be someone who’s gonna help us in the second six. I’m just here to help. What more can you ask for someone who just wants to join the national team.”

“She had some ups and downs but it’s part of the process. But for now, I’m really happy because she’s really enjoying the time there to grow. She always asks for help even from the other players in practice. You can see it in her eyes that she’s willing [to] try,” he added.

READ: Jia De Guzman, Angel Canino cop AVC Challenge Cup awards

The La Salle ace expressed how honored she was to play for the country and realize her family’s dream to don the national colors, armed with the advice of her father and ex-national team player Rodel.

De Brito is grateful to La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus for allowing Canino and other La Salle players Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel to play for Alas as they also saw action in a friendly in South Korea.

“I’m really thankful because La Salle let her come [and her teammates] especially also coach Ramil,” the Alas coach said. “It’s important that we can help each other if there’s something that we can give back to him, of course, it’s this kind of experience she had here, of course, she’ll bring there (La Salle) to share it with other players and their team. Like the NU players did in the past.”

De Brito has more options now in the opposite as Tots Carlos and Alyssa Solomon join the training pool for the FIVB Challenger Cup from July 4 to 7 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. But it will still depend on their practice, which started on Wednesday.

Porzingis’ status uncertain due to rare leg injury

On: By: admin


Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis talks with reporters before basketball practice, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Dallas, in preparation for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

DALLAS — Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t played a game in Dallas since the Mavericks traded him nearly 2 1/2 years ago, and now it is uncertain if he will play there in Game 3 of the NBA Finals for the Boston Celtics.

Porzingis has a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg, which occurred in the third quarter of Boston’s 105-98 victory for a 2-0 series lead. The team said Tuesday that he was day-to-day, and Porzingis said he will do everything he can to play Wednesday night.

Asked if it was a pain-tolerance issue or if he could do more damage, Porzingis said he didn’t know the specifics.

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis a big problem for Mavericks team that cast him off

“That’s something I’ll leave in the medical staff’s hands to determine whether I can go or not,” he said. “Nothing is going to stop me unless I’m told I’m not to, or not allowed to play. That’s the only reason I would not be out there.”

The 7-foot-2 Latvian center has a tear in tissue that holds tendons in place. The Celtics said it was unrelated to the right calf strain that sidelined him for 10 consecutive playoff games before he returned last Thursday for the start of the NBA Finals.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla described it as a “serious injury” and said that the team wouldn’t put Porzingis in any bad situations.

“We’ve taken the decision to play out of his hands because the importance of him,” Mazzulla said. “He’s going to do everything he can to play. We’re going to leave it up to our medical team. That’s really it.”

Porzingis was wearing slides instead of sneakers when he spoke with reporters before practice. He walked with a slight limp and had a black sleeve covering his lower left leg on the off day.

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis returns, Celtics open with big win over Mavericks

Without elaborating, he said he was having treatment all day and doing whatever the medical staff told him. He wasn’t on the court for the open portion of practice.

“I can’t trick them into allowing me to play,” he said.

Porzingis said he felt something after bumping knees Sunday night with Dallas center Dereck Lively II but kept playing. He left the game in the final minute of the third quarter and played only about 3 1/2 minutes in the fourth.

After the game, Porzingis downplayed any injury concern, saying he was optimistic and would “die out there if we need.”

On Tuesday, he said, “I’m living by those words. … I mean I hope not, but if it comes to that to win, I guess.”

In his return during Game 1, his first career game beyond the first round, Porzingis jump-started the Celtics with 11 points and two blocks in the first quarter of the 107-89 win while finishing with 20 points, three blocks and six rebounds. He scored 12 points in 23 minutes of Game 2.

“We’re just so much of a better team when we have him. 7-4 unicorn, right? He’s as talented as they come,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said. “Yes, we’ve had success and found ways to win without him. Obviously, we’re better when he’s on the team, when he’s out there playing with us.”

The 28-year-old Porzingis was the fourth overall pick by the New York Knicks in 2015, and was an All-Star before a torn ACL forced him to miss all of 2018-19. They traded him to Dallas in January 2019, a deal involving seven players and two first-round draft picks.

Dallas traded Porzingis to Washington on Feb. 10, 2022, and the Wizards sent him to Boston in a three-team trade last summer.

When the Wizards played at Dallas in January 2023, Porzingis was inactive after playing in 12 of their previous 13 games. He also didn’t play for the Celtics this past January, when they visited American Airlines Center the night after he had 32 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots in Houston.

“The first time I came back, I was not playing that game, I was with Washington, and I had a warm welcome here. They even did a tribute video, which was very unexpected for me, but that was very nice,” Porzingis said. “I think the organization, the people on the inside appreciated my time here, and that was very nice. … No bad feeling about this place. I love this city, love the fans, and it just didn’t work out.”

Mavericks need more 3s to fall in rally bid vs Celtics

On: By: admin


Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic shoots free throws during basketball practice, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Dallas, in preparation for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

DALLAS — Luka Doncic’s message is simple for the struggling 3-point shooters around him, and with Dallas trailing Boston 2-0 while coming home for the NBA Finals.

“Just one thing: Keep shooting,” the Mavericks superstar said. “We all believe in those shots. That’s how we came to the Finals. That’s how we played the whole season. We believe in those guys.”

Dallas faces several daunting numbers going into Game 3 on Wednesday night.

READ: NBA Finals: Luka Doncic triple-double not enough for Mavericks 

The Celtics are on a nine-game playoff winning streak, a franchise record in pursuit of an NBA-best 18th banner. Just five of the previous 36 teams to face this deficit (14%) have come back to win the title.

One number has to change for the Mavs to rally. Players not named Doncic are 5 of 32 from beyond the arc, with co-star Kyrie Irving misfiring on all eight attempts.

When it comes to 3s, the supporting cast is just about as important as Irving. P.J. Washington Jr., a catalyst for the deep playoff run with his deep ball and defense, is 1 of 8. Derrick Jones Jr. is 1 of 5.

Doncic, who is 8 of 21 from deep, is the only Dallas player with more than one bucket from 3. His role-playing partners have to figure out how to produce without forcing things.

“I think it’s just taking good shots, taking open ones,” said Washington, who shot 47% from 3 in a second-round victory over top-seeded Oklahoma City but is at 23% since then. “Obviously, we haven’t been making shots. We feel pretty good coming home. It’s all about just making open ones, taking open ones.”

READ: NBA Finals: Kyrie Irving channeling 2016 as Mavericks plot rally

Let’s not forget the the defense of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday, among others. Boston had the second-best defensive rating in the regular season, and has the size and tenacity on the perimeter to make Doncic and Irving uncomfortable.

While Doncic just had the first playoff triple-double in Dallas history with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 105-98 loss in Game 2, the five-time All-Star has 12 turnovers in the series. Irving is shooting 35% with significantly more shots (37) than points (28).

Brown has guarded both, often picking up Doncic at half court and occasionally poking the ball loose for easy buckets the other way.

“He’s been one of the emotional leaders on the team,” Irving said of his former teammate. “Defensively, he’s making it difficult. For the past few years, he’s tried to make his mark on that end. When you take pride in what you do on the defensive end, it’s going to show.”

Dallas has been outscored 39-25 in points off turnovers against a team that struggled with those miscues in a six-game loss to Golden State in the NBA Finals two years ago.

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis has rare leg injury, uncertain for Game 3

“I sound like I’m repeating myself,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “But if we can take care of the ball and not give them live-ball turnovers where they are not just laying up the ball or dunking, it puts us in a better seat. We’ve got to take care of the ball. That’s the next step in the series.”

Those Celtics had a 2-1 series lead in 2022 before losing three in a row to the Warriors. Part of where they are now started with where they ended up against Stephen Curry and company.

“It’s almost like you got to trick your mind almost in a sense,” Brown said. “You almost got to play like you’re down 0-2 rather than up. That’s hard to do.”

Everything about the Finals is new for Doncic, including the 2-0 deficit. Not for Irving, who is in his fourth title series and won his championship with LeBron James in Cleveland in 2016 when the Cavaliers erased a 2-0 deficit against the Warriors.

Or for Kidd, the point guard when Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas to its only championship 11 years ago. Those Mavs won three in a row to close out Miami in six games.

“A lot of it is just a learning curve for myself, for my teammates, and also a peace of mind that we give each other that we want to give ourselves a chance by leaving it all out there on the floor,” Irving said. “That’s literally been the focus since Game 2 ended.”

In this series, Doncic added a chest contusion to the sprained right knee and sore left ankle the 25-year-old has been dealing with most of the playoffs.

The Celtics are facing uncertainty again with Kristaps Porzingis, the 7-foot-2 Latvian who missed 10 consecutive playoff games with a right calf strain before sparking the 107-89 Game 1 win with a dominant first quarter.

Porzingis has what the team called a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg, which was sustained in Game 2. He hasn’t been ruled out in Boston’s pursuit of a commanding series lead.

“Same old, same old,” Brown said. “(Porzingis) has been tremendous for our group, not just in the playoffs, but all season long. It’s obvious him on the floor just helps elevate us to a different level. But … we prepare for these moments to be able to play with or without anyone.”

Kyrie Irving says Mavericks change ‘starts with me’

On: By: admin


Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving heads toward the bench during the first half of Game 1 of the basketball team’s NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

DALLAS — The last 12 games where Kyrie Irving has played against the Boston Celtics have all ended with the same outcome.

His team lost.

It’s a streak that Irving and the Dallas Mavericks would desperately like to see end Wednesday night, when they play host to the Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Boston leads the series 2-0.

“First thing of that is just accepting that I haven’t played well or up to my standards, as well as I would have liked,” Irving said. “Being back in Boston, there’s such a level of desire that I have inside of me to play well. Wanted to be there for my teammates. As a competitor, it’s frustrating. But I don’t want to let that seep in or spill over to any other decisions I have to make there as a player.”

Irving shot only 35% in the first two games of these finals in Boston, averaging 14 points and four assists in his former home arena — where fans make clear that they don’t like him much. He’s shot 50% or less in each of his last 10 games against the Celtics.

READ: Kyrie Irving channeling 2016 as Mavericks plot NBA Finals rally

“I just can feel the stakes being raised up a little bit more,” Irving said. “The pressure is natural. Makes diamonds. … We just have to continue to lean in on each other, especially when it gets tough out there. We’re going against a great team. They’re not going to stop pressing us, stop their pace, stop testing us on both ends of the floor. We know what we’re in for. But now we have to raise it to an even higher level, and it starts with me.”

The odds

Dallas is a 2.5-point favorite in Game 3, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, and unless the line changes significantly it’ll mark a rare instance of Boston being an underdog this season.

Wednesday will be the Celtics’ 99th game of the year. They’ve been underdogs only three times in the first 98 — at Sacramento on Dec. 20 ( a 144-119 Boston win ), at Milwaukee on Jan. 11 ( a 135-102 Bucks win ) and at Milwaukee again on April 9 ( a 104-91 Bucks victory ).

Tatum watching

Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk said he’s rooting for the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals for an obvious reason — he went to school in St. Louis with Jayson Tatum.

And, as one might guess, Tatum is rooting for the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.

READ: Celtics control NBA Finals despite Jayson Tatum’s shooting woes

“I actually watched him win last night,” Tatum said Tuesday, referring to Florida’s 4-1 win over Edmonton that gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead in that title series. “Trying to learn and understand the rules in the game of hockey more and more. I got to watch the game last night. They won. Like I said, I’m extremely happy for him and his family. Hopefully they win it all.”

Closing in

Boston enters Game 3 of the NBA Finals with 1,582 makes from 3-point range this season, including playoffs.

That means the Celtics are 15 3s away from breaking the NBA’s full-season record. Boston connected on 1,596 shots from deep last season to set the mark.

Celtics control NBA Finals despite Jayson Tatum’s shooting woes

On: By: admin


Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) questions a call during Game 2 of the NBA Basketball Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

DALLAS — There have been two versions of Jayson Tatum so far in these NBA Finals.

Version One is shooting a dismal 12 for 38 from the field, just 31.6%, the worst percentage by far of any starter in the series between his Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. Version Two is second in the finals in total rebounds, leads the series in assists and, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, is currently favored to win the NBA Finals MVP award.

Add them up, and the Celtics seem completely satisfied what they’re seeing from Tatum, as usual. The Celtics have a 2-0 lead in the finals going into Game 3 in Dallas on Wednesday night, meaning the NBA’s best team all season is halfway to an 18th championship.

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis has rare leg injury, uncertain for Game 3

“I understand that I do need to be more efficient,” Tatum said Tuesday. “I do need to shoot the ball better, I would not disagree with anybody on that. But I’m not letting it bother me. I’m still trying to find ways to impact the game and dominate the game in other areas.”

Getting too deep into Tatum’s numbers in this series — or even when adding the 2022 NBA Finals to the totals — isn’t a great idea, simply because of the sample size. He’s been in a total of eight finals games. It’s not enough to draw conclusions.

That said, while the shooting is almost shockingly bad — no player in the last 60 years, with as many shot attempts as Tatum has all-time in NBA Finals play, has shot worse than his .354 clip — he’s on pace to do something historic. If his averages of 17 points, 10 rebounds and 8.5 assists hold up through the rest of the series, he’d be the second player to finish a finals with those numbers.

The other is LeBron James, who did it four times.

“Criticism is the ultimate beauty,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It’s a sign of ultimate respect. It’s just a beautiful thing. I really love the way Jayson has handled that. It’s just a testament to who he is.”

READ: NBA Finals: Celtics hold off Mavericks for 2-0 lead

It is good news for the Mavericks that they’ve done well on Tatum through two games.

The bad news, of course, is that it hasn’t mattered much. Tatum fills up the box score in other ways, and the Celtics won both games at home to open the series.

“I think he’s one of the best players in the world,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “You’re trying to just make it tough. That’s all you can do, is hopefully guard the first move, guard the second move, guard the third move and contest. Guys are doing that at a high rate, trying to make it tough on him.”

Shooting-wise, these two games in the finals represent the worst two-game span of Tatum’s season. He was barely better in games against Denver and Houston in mid-January, shooting 31.7% in those.

The next game after that little stretch saw Tatum score 39 points. The Mavericks should know that one well; it was against them. So, they’re likely pretty certain that Tatum’s shooting won’t stay cold for long.

“Over time you learn how to deal with all the extra noise and attention, whether it’s positive or not so positive,” Tatum said. “You know, I’m a fair, smart person. I know when I’m doing things at a high level. I know when I need to do certain things better. So I’m not, like, oblivious to what’s going on. At the same time, just keeping the main thing the main thing and focusing on trying to win the next game. That’s what’s most important at this time.”