How Jayson Tatum got going in Game 4

Nice thinker Harry Dunne as soon as mentioned, “simply once I assume you couldn’t probably be any dumber, you go and do one thing like this… and completely redeem your self!”

Jayson Tatum went from goat to GOAT in a matter of a 15-minute halftime break. Paying homage to Clark Kent getting into the telephone sales space and rising as Superman, however as a substitute of flying and tremendous energy, we acquired forceful finishes and ideal rim reads — from a Bismack Biyombo degree 2-9-2 within the first half to 17-9-4 within the second, with 5 extra factors in extra time.

What I’m attempting to say is that Tatum was dangerous within the first half, and incredible within the second. Whereas a part of it was merely him rising into the sport, the Celtics adjusted offensively and that allowed Tatum to thrive. Let’s check out the primary half offense after which dive into what modified.

The primary half began with what most followers, myself included, wish to see from the Celtics offense: off-ball motion and getting Tatum downhill. This pin-down set is a typical one for the Cs and one thing they open video games with usually. It didn’t work significantly properly in opposition to Philly.

The first problem is considered one of spacing. Al Horford is just too busy setting a display for Jaylen Brown in a mirrored motion on the opposite facet of the court docket to house the ground. That permits Joel Embiid to mainly camp within the lane. The result’s this motion funneling Tatum proper into assist, and given the time it took to execute the set, by the point right here’s within the lane, the shot clock is brief. He’s pressured into this ugly pull-up midrange shot that goes nowhere. This was a typical prevalence within the first half. Low clock, funneled into assist, uncomfortable shot.

That’s to not say Tatum is with out fault. His first half was plagued with half-hearted drives at Embiid, afraid to actually problem him.

It is a horrible shot; there’s no drive, no confidence. For those who go sturdy, Embiid may block, however you may also get fouled. The upside is so much increased with a powerful take than no matter that floater was.

Then got here the second half and the changes. Importantly, there’s nobody on the Sixers that may keep in entrance of Tatum off the bounce. Nobody. He’s too massive and powerful for De’Anthony Melton and Tyrese Maxey and too fast and shifty for everybody else. As an alternative of placing him off-ball and funneling him in direction of assist, Joe Mazzulla gave him the ball on the high of the important thing with a spaced ground and let him go to work. It labored.

With Al on the ground, Embiid will get spaced out and opens the lane up for JT. With Rob Williams on the court docket, Tatum is ready to attract assist from Embiid and lay it off in harmful areas. He was attending to the rim ruthlessly all the half and both ending sturdy proper on the rim or making the appropriate learn for a drop off or kick to a shooter. And since it’s easy offense, Tatum at all times had ample time to get out and in of some strikes with out worrying concerning the shot clock winding down. It was unstoppable.

I anticipate we’ll see the Celtics assault on this method early and infrequently in Sport 5. You must leverage Al Horford’s taking pictures in opposition to the Sixers and make Embiid both go away Al or the lane. As long as the ground is appropriately spaced, all Tatum has to do is breakdown his man and the offense carries from there. Let’s simply hope he will get into the offense somewhat faster this time.