Erik Spoelstra heaps praise on ‘super unique' Jayson Tatum

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Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is no stranger to the challenge of keeping Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum in check.

Spoelstra's club will face Tatum and the C's in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight year and the third time in the last four postseasons. Miami took the series in the NBA bubble back in 2020, but the Celtics got their revenge in the 2022 playoffs.

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Tatum averaged 25.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.6 in last year's seven-game series. Heading into the rematch, Spoelstra shared high praise for the four-time All-Star.

“Tatum is super unique,” Spoelstra said before Game 1 on Wednesday. “That’s why he’s one of the best players on this planet. He has that attack nature, but he can also light you up from behind the line depending on how the game’s going.

"You have to compete more than anything. It’s not schematic — it is part of it. But when you’re dealing with great players you have to find a way to overcome it.”

Even if Miami succeeds in slowing down Tatum, the Celtics have second-team All-NBA selection Jaylen Brown to carry the load. Limiting both of stars will be the key to the No. 8 seed Heat upsetting the No. 2 C's.

"It's easier said than done," Spoelstra said, per ESPN's Nick Friedell. "You have to do your work early. Weakside defenders have to be in their spots early ... they're a very good driving team because of those two guys [Tatum and Brown] collapse your defense and then have spacing, and they're very disciplined with their spacing, with a bunch of 40-percent 3-point shooters.

"You got to scramble and make multiple efforts -- there's no easy way, but there is a way. You have to commit to those kinds of efforts."

Celtics-Heat Game 1 is set for an 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off at TD Garden.

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