The NBA Finals might have been a coronation of kinds, not just for the Celtics, however their resident celebrity.
It might have been an affirmation of Jayson Tatum’s place among the many greats within the sport, an indelible stamp on the primary All-NBA First Team nod of his profession.
Instead, we’re all left with an unsettling query: “Where the heck was he?”
In do-or-die Game 6, the one place he made a big dent within the field rating was within the turnover column.
During the 103-90 loss to the Golden State Warriors, Tatum had 5 of the workforce’s 23 turnovers, because the Celtics simply couldn’t kick their annoying behavior of giving the ball away. Moreover, Tatum now owns the NBA report for many turnovers in a single postseason with 100.
With the Celtics playoff lives weighing within the stability, Tatum’s 13-point, 5-turnover effort was a killer.
Jaylen Brown got here to play and did his greatest to hold the workforce and keep away from elimination, pouring in 34 factors. Al Horford additionally did his greatest to will the workforce to a different comeback, with 19 factors.
Tatum, in the meantime, took the invisible route, particularly within the second half of the Finals-clinching loss to the Warriors.
How dangerous was it?
Tatum mustered simply two factors throughout the closing 24 minutes of the sport. He went 1-for-8 from the ground. His taking pictures drought proved lethal to any Celtics hope to increase the collection to a Game 7.
Tatum principally had milk carton standing within the largest sport of the Celtics unbelievable run to the championship collection.
And this wasn’t a one-game deal. It was consultant of too many video games within the Finals. In the Game 4 loss, he had 23 factors, however shot 8-for-23 from the ground (4-from-8 from distance) with six turnovers.
He didn’t hit 30 factors in any of the Finals video games. Steph Curry, the Finals MVP, had three 30-point video games, and one the place he fully buried the Celtics virtually by himself with a Herculean 43-point effort.
Yes, Tatum is simply 24. And sure, he might have been hampered by a proper shoulder drawback courting again to Game 3 of the Miami collection.
But the shoulder doesn’t clarify the turnovers, the poor decision-making, and lack of scoring punch, particularly throughout the essential moments within the sport.
It doesn’t clarify his ineffectiveness towards a workforce that managed to foil him with extra street blocks than he’s used to seeing.
“It’s easy to look back and see all the things you could have done better,” Tatum mentioned following the season-ending loss. “We tried. I know that for a fact.”
The Warriors have been basically hellbent on not letting Tatum beat them. And they beautiful a lot pissed off him at each flip.
What did Celtics head coach Ime Udoka hope Tatum would take away from having the Warriors tame his tremendous powers?
Udoka summed it up by saying Tatum nonetheless needed to be taught and perceive who he’s as a participant, and he ought to rely on different groups treating him similar to the Warriors did. In different phrases, all of this was a part of the training of being a celebrity.
“You’re an All-Star, All-NBA First Team guy for a reason,” Udoka mentioned of Tatum. “This is only the start of how you’re going to be guarded and the attention you’re going to draw.”
Throughout the season, and within the first few collection, Tatum did a great job determining how you can counter the a number of totally different coverages used towards him. That wasn’t the case towards the Warriors.
“This was one a rough one. Very consistent team that did some things to limit him and make others pay,” Udoka mentioned. “For him, it’s simply persevering with to develop and perceive you’re going to see this the remainder of your profession. This is only a begin.
“The growth he showed as a playmaker this year and in certain areas, I think this is the next step for him. Figuring that out, getting to where some of the veterans are that have seen everything and took their lumps early in their careers.”
Tatum was clearly dejected by not solely the workforce dropping, however his position within the end result. He didn’t get pleasure from having to take some lumps, and wouldn’t use the shoulder as an excuse for his struggles.
When requested particularly if he would wish offseason surgical procedure, Tatum mentioned he didn’t assume that might be the case. He was additionally requested if the shoulder impacted his efficiency in Game 6.
His reply?
“It was just a tough night.”
Indeed, it was. And the Celtics star wasn’t comforted by ideas of getting a vivid future, utilizing this as a studying expertise, and presumably a motivator going ahead. That didn’t take the sting of dropping his first NBA Finals away.
Tatum, who sat together with his arms folded, and head down for many of his post-game presser, appeared inconsolable.
“You know, we all could have done things better. I feel like I could have done a lot of things better,” he mentioned. “But, you know, like we said, we competed, we tried all season, all playoffs.”
Udoka, nevertheless, didn’t appear apprehensive about his star going ahead. He’ll get previous this. And he’s anticipating Tatum to rebound with a vengeance.
“Like I said, very motivated guy that works extremely hard, high IQ, intelligent guy that will learn from this and figure it out,” mentioned the Celtics head coach. “I think it will propel him to go forward, definitely motivate him.”
The hope is, the narrative will change. The hope is Tatum will develop, be higher the following time round, and play extra persistently like a celebrity — if there’s a subsequent time.
The concern is Tatum won’t have what it takes to fully assume the position. The excellent news is there’s nonetheless time for Tatum to in the end be that man.
He simply is aware of this was a chance missed, being two wins away. After going up 2-1 within the collection, the Warriors expertise in championship video games took over.
Tatum & Co. have been hard-pressed to fight that.
“It’s hard. It’s hard getting to this point. It’s even harder getting over it, the hump, and win it. It’s been a long journey, a long process,” he mentioned. “That’s what I took from it: it’s tough. You got to take it up another level to do what we want to do.”
He’s proper. And Tatum needs to be the one taking the lead, one thing he wasn’t in a position or able to do towards the Warriors.
Source: www.bostonherald.com