{"id":77149,"date":"2024-05-12T10:43:31","date_gmt":"2024-05-12T14:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=77149"},"modified":"2024-05-13T10:38:46","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T14:38:46","slug":"do-the-celtics-need-superstar-tatum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/05\/12\/do-the-celtics-need-superstar-tatum\/","title":{"rendered":"Do the Celtics Need Superstar Tatum?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jayson\u00a0<\/span><\/a>Tatum<\/a>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0playoffs and role in the Celtics potentially winning a title have\u00a0<\/span>been well discussed<\/span>. He\u00a0<\/span>hasn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0consistently played at an elite level in eight games this playoffs so far. The Celtics are ultra-talented and one of the most dominant teams in recent\u00a0<\/span>memory<\/span>\u00a0highlighted by them having fourth-best net rating<\/a> in NBA history.\u00a0<\/span>This<\/span>\u00a0begs the question: do the Celtics need Tatum to play at a superstar level?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do the Celtics Need Superstar Tatum?<\/h2>\n

Tatum’s Playoffs so Far<\/span><\/h3>\n

By no means is Tatum having a bad playoffs. He is making a well-rounded impact\u00a0<\/span>averaging<\/span><\/a>\u00a023.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. However, his shooting efficiency has been\u00a0<\/span>extremely poor<\/span>, shooting just 41% from the field and 26% from three. Furthermore, he has\u00a0<\/span>yet to have<\/span>\u00a0a signature Tatum game in the playoffs. <\/span><\/p>\n

Notably, two of\u00a0<\/span>Tatum\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0best games this playoffs were recently. In Game<\/span>\u00a03\u00a0<\/span>Tatum put up 33 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists en route to a 13-point win. While the Celtics lost in Game<\/span>\u00a02\u00a0<\/span>Tatum had a 25-point, seven-rebound, five-assist stat line. However, even in these performances, Tatum\u00a0<\/span>wasn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0playing at a totally elite level. In Game<\/span>\u00a03 against the Cavs,\u00a0<\/span>he had five turnovers and made just two of eight three-point attempts. Game 2 saw the\u00a0<\/span>Celtics\u2019<\/span>\u00a0supporting cast surprisingly struggle\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0Tatum was never fully able to take over. The only other notable Tatum game in the playoffs so far has been Game 1 against the\u00a0<\/span>Heat<\/span>\u00a0where he posted a 23-point triple-double. <\/span><\/p>\n

Despite his efficiency struggles in the\u00a0<\/span>playoffs<\/span>\u00a0Tatum has attacked the rim and gotten to the line well\u00a0<\/span>notably<\/span>\u00a0taking 2.1 fewer threes per game. Overall\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0the playoffs, Tatum has made an all-around impact but is not playing at the superstar level we expect of him.\u00a0<\/span>Furthermore<\/span>, the\u00a0<\/span>Celtics’<\/span>\u00a0talent and surrounding options have made these struggles less noticeable. However, these shooting struggles are concerning\u00a0<\/span>considering<\/span>\u00a0Tatum has yet to face an elite wing defender.\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0fair to question what will happen when Tatum inevitably faces an elite wing defender later in the playoffs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Emergence of Jaylen Brown<\/h3>\n

While Tatum has struggled somewhat in the\u00a0<\/span>playoffs<\/span>\u00a0Jaylen Brown<\/a> has stepped up massively.\u00a0<\/span>Brown\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0emergence is\u00a0<\/span>especially<\/span>\u00a0crucial\u00a0<\/span>not just<\/span>\u00a0because of\u00a0<\/span>Tatum\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0shooting struggles\u00a0<\/span>but also<\/span>\u00a0Kristaps\u00a0<\/a><\/span>Porzingis<\/a>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0injury<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Brown leads the team in playoff scoring\u00a0<\/span>averaging<\/span><\/a>\u00a024.1\u00a0<\/span>while shooting<\/span>\u00a055.6% from the field and 34% from three.<\/span>\u00a0He is also shooting an absurd 67.9% at the rim<\/a>. So far in the\u00a0<\/span>playoffs<\/span>\u00a0Brown has been the\u00a0<\/span>Celtics’<\/span>\u00a0best player and provided them with elite production. <\/span><\/p>\n

Brown also had a great<\/a> end to the regular season. He averaged<\/a> 25.6 points, 5.7 rebounds\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a03.1 assists.\u00a0<\/span>In<\/span>\u00a0the regular season,\u00a0<\/span>Brown<\/span>\u00a0was notably more efficient in clutch time<\/a> play than Tatum<\/a> despite having far lower usage. If\u00a0<\/span>Brown\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0incredible play and\u00a0<\/span>Tatum\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0struggles\u00a0<\/span>continue<\/span>\u00a0it will be interesting to see who the Celtics turn to in inevitable close games later in the playoffs.\u00a0<\/span>Brown\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0play might be a sign he is closing the gap between him and Tatum.\u00a0<\/span>Alternatively, Tatum could\u00a0<\/span>just<\/span>\u00a0be going through a cold stretch and\u00a0<\/span>will eventually dominate<\/span>, separating himself from Brown.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Brown’s Leadership\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another area Brown and Tatum also differ in is leadership style. Part of the Marcus Smart<\/a>-Porzingis trade helped open a more vocal leadership<\/a> role for the Js.\u00a0<\/span>In my eyes,<\/span>\u00a0Brown has filled the role more than Tatum this season.<\/span>\u00a0Brown seems to hold his teammates accountable more\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0there have been reports<\/a> he is the\u00a0<\/span>true<\/span>\u00a0team leader. In many ways, the team runs through\u00a0<\/span>Brown\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0energy.\u00a0<\/span>That\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0not a shot at Tatum; he is ultimately the more talented player. However, he has a more laid-back lead-by-example style. The two\u00a0<\/span>players’<\/span>\u00a0post-game press conference after\u00a0<\/span>Thursday\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0Game 2 loss highlights this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jaylen Brown: \u201cDefensively, it was an unacceptable performance.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/zmm9oYFEdI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Noa Dalzell \ud83c\udfc0 (@NoaDalzellNBA) May 10, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n