The Orlando Magic player allegedly responsible for Jayson Tatum’s wrist injury in Game 1 has spoken out about being blamed for the incident, and Celtics fans aren’t going to like it.
Veteran shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the main player who challenged Tatum at the rim before the Celtics superstar fell hard to the floor and suffered a bone bruise in his wrist.
While MRI results for Tatum’s wrist were negative, the injury is significant enough that it might cause JT to miss games this postseason.
Was Caldwell-Pope in the wrong for his physical contest at the rim?
It’s difficult to say, although Celtics center Al Horford certainly took umbrage with the play, indicating to reporters this week that he felt Caldwell-Pope’s contest was unsportsmanlike.
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On Wednesday ahead of Game 2 between Orlando and Boston, Caldwell-Pope was asked a question about the play and Horford’s comments. CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning was the reporter questioning KCP.
"I didn't hear any comments (from Horford),” Caldwell-Pope said.
“A hard foul is a hard foul. I really don't care what anybody says. I'm still gonna play how I play, how I'm supposed to play.”
It’s hard to be overly critical of Caldwell-Pope’s answer. Playoff basketball is known to be extremely physical, and the challenge at the rim did not appear vicious in the moment that it happened.
In a league that has become increasingly less violent since the 1970s and 1980s, Caldwell-Pope’s play may not have even been called a foul decades ago.
But the NBA is much different now, and superstars like Tatum are expected to be protected by officiating, and also by their fellow teammates.
Wednesday’s battle at TD Garden should be intense, and Caldwell-Pope will be bracing himself for an onslaught of hearty boos whenever he touches the rock.
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