What went through your mind when Jayson tore his Achilles tendon in the second round of the playoffs last season? Joe Mazzulla: It was tough because you had to compartmentalize it quickly and then we had to try to win in a Game 5. So, it was both. Once the game was over, I spent time with him in the locker room. I’m very grateful for the relationship that we have, but he was in the [training room] most of the game. [Afterwards], he asked me to just come back there and be with him and just spend some time with him back there. Then you had to try to compartmentalize it because we had to try to win Game 5. And then we do that and then we lose Game 6, obviously. And then the offseason becomes about that. There’s a dual thing there. It’s not about life without Jayson. It’s not about that. It’s about two separate things. How can I be there for him as a person? Then, how can I give the guys who are coming back to play the preparation, the mindset, the things that go into winning? How can I prepare to do that and give that? So, it’s kind of two completely different things. It’s not one and the same.
Andscape
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