LogFAQs > #965888356

yeah, i think tatum is not physically right - i trashed him for how he acted at the end of game 3 vs miami, but it looks like he really did hurt his shoulder then. but even then, he still committed a lot of mental errors offensively. part of that is physical i think - injury and just an insane amount of fatigue. but i'm sure there's an element of frustration to it, and probably holes in his game. he is admittedly streaky, but usually is best late in the season - often starts seasons off without any touch and then goes crazy around 2/3 of the way in - and was following that pattern this year until essentially that miami series.

tatum loves holding the ball, sizing up an opponent, getting into his bag, then making the right move or countermove or pass or whatever. but against the warriors and miami, he needed way more decisiveness upon catching it - attack immediately, go up strong, fire it up right away, or dish it before surveying the defense. when he was able to make decisions quickly, no matter what it was, things were way better for the celtics. when he deliberated, sometimes we'd get something reasonable, but he very rarely managed to cook his defender and score in true isolation and pnr.

part of the blame probably falls on coaching as well as the bad habits that developed during the 2019 through 2021 seasons. as a rookie tatum wasn't allowed to handle the rock as much, and when he caught it he was basically expected to move it, drive it right away, or put up a three (and he shot insanely well that year). in 2019 the roles were more mixed with all the egos on contract year guys and kyrie. in 2020 though, kemba got hurt and tatum was forced to become the engine of the offense. he exploded in efficiency taking sidestep 3s, and then the pandemic happened and we ran out of gas against miami. since then, he has been able to go off against some softer defenses, but the hands and IQ of the heat and warriors really took it out of him.

still love the guy though. his defense didn't suffer whatsoever this series due to his shooting woes (other than when he didn't get back in transition because he was bitching at the refs). the guy needs a long, long break from basketball.