The Boston Celtics came into this season with a ton of question marks. Who will be the starting Point Guard, How will the roster adjust to New Head Coach Ime Udoka. One thing they didn’t expect would be to be wondering 14 games into the season; what is wrong with Jayson Tatum?
Through 14 games, we’ve only seen Tatum look like himself on 3 occasions. His other 11 performances have been marred by inefficient shooting, turnovers, and inconsistent effort.
The Boston Celtics recovered from a horrid 2-5 by winning 5 of there next 7. The Celtics recent success has actually been credited to the supporting cast around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. With Brown out with a hamstring injury and Tatum seemingly lost in his own head, the Celtics have been carried by guys like Dennis Schroder, Al Horford and Robert Williams III as they continue to get the ship righted.
Boston has been carried by the defensive side of the ball over the past few weeks. It’s good to see them be able to lock in defensively when shots aren’t falling, but they’ll need to get out of the offensive funk they find themselves in to really get a good look at what this team can be.
Flipping the switch offensively for Boston is impossible without Tatum figuring out his offensive woes. Dissecting exactly what’s wrong with Tatum is tough as it can contributed to a myriad of issues.
Ime Udoka’s Incorrect Vision of Tatum
When Coach Udoka was hired by the Boston Celtics, fans were delighted by the idea of the physical prowess Udoka would instill in this roster. Tatum developing into a dominant player in the paint seemed to be the next step in his growth as an offensive weapon.
Tatum adding 5 or 6 more trips to the free throw line seemed to be Udoka’s vision for the fifth year wing. We heard it while the two were with Team USA over the summer. Udoka preached Bully Ball to Tatum all summer. We saw it translate in Tatum’s physical stature entering training camp. He came in with a noticeable increase in mass in his upper body, a body change needed to hold up to the bully ball style Udoka wanted him to adapt to.
The issue with bully ball, and Tatum looking to draw more Fouls? The NBA has made it a point to increase the physicality they’re allowing this season. Tatum hasn’t been able to adjust to the lack of calls and Udoka has yet to adjust his vision of how he wants Tatum to play.
If it ain’t Broke don’t Fix it
If you’re wondering why it feels like the Celtics aren’t taking advantage of Jayson Tatum’s strengths, it is because they aren’t. Tatum had a career season last year. The reason? Brad Stevens designed the Celtics offense to take advantage of Jayson Tatum’s offensive strong points.
Tatum thrives as the ball handler in the pick and roll. The P&R unlocks his driving ability, allowing him to see one defender while he drives to the basket.
Tatum average just over 8 P&R touches per game last season, with nearly half of his shot attempts coming out of the P&R. He’s hovering right around 4 P&R touches this season, and defenses know it.
Opponents are throwing a myriad of different double team coverages at Tatum when he sets the offense. Often forcing the Celtics into broken offensive plays, and late shot clock attempts.
Instead of finding an adjustment to these double teams late in games, Udoka has elected to take the ball out his best players’ hands. Tatum is often just a spectator in the corner in closing minutes of games over the past week or so.
The Celtics offense stands no chance without creative play calling to get Tatum in position to get clean looks. Udoka has yet to show any signs of being capable of helping Tatum in that aspect.
Too Much Isolation
What’s the one thing Jayson Tatum is statistically terrible at?
Isolation.
How long has inefficiency in the isolation plagued his game?
His entire Career.
What has Jayson Tatum attempted way too much of this season?
Isolation.
Jayson Tatum is a horrible isolation player. We’ve seen it time and time again, yet he keeps reverting back to it. The ultimate down side of the lack of set offense being drawn up for Tatum is that he needs his shots and begins pressing and forcing in the Iso.
If the Celtics expect Tatum to shoot his self out of the slump he is through isolation contested jump shots and drives, they are out of their mind. He’s not going to reign himself in on his own. Boston needs to draw up some plays to get him some clean looks so he can see a few go in.
The Celtics have a lot of work to do to get this thing turned around. Figuring out Jayson Tatum’s issues are the obvious key to unlocking the offense.
I’m confident he’ll be able to turn it around but we’re in scary hours right now.
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The post What the Hell is Wrong With Jayson Tatum? appeared first on Armchair Media Network.