And we’re again with one other How ‘Bout Them Celtics Tri-Weekly!
The Boston Celtics fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in ugly trend, however Jayson Tatum’s new offensive sport is taking him to new heights. Let’s get into the motion.
Sam’s Choose: What am I watching, the 2023 Playoffs???
The sensation that the Celtics gave me on Monday night time was all too acquainted as they let a winnable sport trickle away within the closing minutes of regulation and into time beyond regulation. I had flashbacks to the crunch time losses sprinkled by way of Boston’s disappointing playoff run final spring.
With two minutes remaining within the fourth quarter, Jaylen Brown knocked down a nook three to offer the Cs a three-point lead. From that time on issues obtained SLOPPY on the offensive finish.
After permitting the Timberwolves to match with a long-range make of their very own, Boston introduced the ball down and settled for a troublesome Jayson Tatum fall away from the mid-range.
Happily, the Cs had been capable of cease the surging Timberwolves on back-to-back possessions. Nonetheless, they weren’t capable of reap the benefits of a pair of alternatives to land a ending blow on the hosts. As a substitute, they strung collectively two hideous turnovers.
First, Mike Conley knocked the ball away from Jrue Vacation as he drove inside.
Then, a sloppy go from Tatum led Al Horford to attempt to ABSOLUTELY FLOOR IT, solely to stumble after which slip out of bounds. There’s a fairly honest likelihood that the rushed look was a results of the completely fraudulent two-for-one mindset.
To complete off regulation, the Cs obtained an honest take a look at a 3, as Brown cleared himself some house with a step again transfer. Though the try was high-quality, they most likely might’ve gotten a greater look had they gotten into the motion sooner, and even referred to as a timeout (which isn’t one thing I sometimes fear about — this isn’t Joe Mazzulla’s fault).
As soon as issues obtained to time beyond regulation, Anthony Edwards caught hearth for Minnesota, and the Celtics obtained roped into taking part in his sport. They started to accept powerful seems and isolation alternatives, nearly conceding the sport after the younger star heated up.
Now, I’m not going to emphasize about one meltdown, particularly after watching the Cs buckle down in early wins over the New York Knicks and Miami Warmth. However, I hope that is the final collapse that I’ve to look at for fairly some time. This workforce is simply just too proficient to not have the ability to get good photographs in an in depth sport like final night time’s.
Jack’s Choose: Jayson Tatum has discovered one other degree
The majority of this present was recorded earlier than the Celtics’ loss to the Timberwolves, proper across the time when it was introduced that Jayson Tatum gained the NBA’s Japanese Convention Participant of the Week.
Regardless of their new lack of undefeated standing, Tatum’s play ought to nonetheless be applauded, as he’s by some means managed to search out one other degree this yr. After making the All-NBA First Workforce final season, ending top-five in MVP voting, and including extra expertise round him this yr (which ought to have theoretically decreased his particular person manufacturing), Tatum obtained higher.
Nevertheless it’s not the truth that he obtained higher that’s so intriguing. It’s how.
Final yr, Tatum’s shot profile was an analytics-enjoyer’s dream: Threes and layups. He nearly completely took above-the-break threes and photographs on the rim. This yr, he’s mixing in a little bit of every little thing else.
Tatum’s stepping into the submit, he’s stepping in from the three-point line to aim extra mid-range photographs, he’s extra willingly driving to the basket and accepting contact, and it appears as if each time he touches the ball, the possession turns to gold.
In some way, with three different gamers able to scoring 20 factors per sport subsequent to him, Tatum’s scoring common has remained the identical, and he’s improved his effectivity. Tatum normally will get off to a sizzling begin, as evidenced by the Participant of the Week, however this time round, the manufacturing appears extra sustainable.
These had been just some of the primary speaking factors from Tuesday’s podcast. Additionally featured had been some sizzling takes in regards to the early outcomes from across the league, Julius Randle trying completely misplaced for the Knicks, and the well-known “Rat Listing.”
