A few weeks prior to the NBA postponed its season in March, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum dropped 41 points at Staples Center in a last-possession loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. After the game, LeBron James granted the NBAs supreme seal of approval when he published on Instagram a shot of himself and Tatum, with each looking intently at the court as they waited to sign in to the nationally televised match.
” That boi to the left of me is an ABSOLUTE PROBLEM!! Keep going,” James wrote as the caption, adding the hashtag, “#YoungKing.”.
Any narrow loss is dispiriting, a further signal that Tatum is poised to be one of the preeminent stars of his generation is happy payment.
1 RelatedNearly 6 months later, the Absolute Problem leads a group that is once again in the Eastern Conference mix, as the Celtics have actually continued their forward momentum given that breaking ground on their reconstruct in 2013. Theyre on their third All-Star point player in that period, steady veteran Kemba Walker, however they have a largely young lineup without the age and experience of Milwaukee or Toronto.
The Celtics are still developing, still fine-tuning their functions in a progressing offense and, whens it comes to their set of vibrant wings, Tatum and Jaylen Brown, still learning which tools to leave in the tool kit. Theyre rounding into kind, and Tatum may discover himself on an All-NBA team as quickly as this summertime. The extent to which the team can accelerate that growth will likely determine the Celtics postseason fortunes.
Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesNow 2-2 in the Orlando, Florida, bubble after a 149-115 win over the Brooklyn Nets, the Celtics have demonstrated over the course of the season that they do a lot of things well– not surprising for a group that ranks in the top 5 in offense and defense. As with any squad, there are natural stress points.
Particularly, Tatums tension point is a product of his budding stardom– another great problem. He can score a variety of ways and is doing so more efficiently this season, but where Tatum flourishes in the half court is on isolation ownerships. He has turned into a solid pick-and-roll gamer, however the 22-year-old is deadly if you keep other bodies out of the play and allow him to assault individually. Among the 85 gamers who have actually operated in seclusion this season more than 100 times, he ranks sixth in points per opportunity, and he has hit more 3-pointers in iso situations than anybody else besides previous MVP James Harden.
Tatum came out rolling on Wednesday. In the first minute of play, he moved ended a Daniel Theis screen and drained pipes a 3-pointer. About a minute later, he caught an avoid pass from Gordon Hayward on the left side above the arc. With a single dribble, Tatum zipped Caris LeVert, then raised above Joe Harris to scoop the ball off the glass for a simple 2-pointer– easy for Tatum, at least. After selecting up two quick fouls, Tatum was sidelined for much of the very first half. With the game in hand, Brad Stevens sat his super star for the 4th quarter on the 2nd night of a back-to-back– but not prior to Tatum drained pipes five 3-pointers in eight efforts. He ended up with 19 points in 18 minutes.
Tatums iso exploits happen outside the confines of a Celtics system that relies on the active engagement of all five players on the flooring. Company is among the strengths of the Celtics offense, however remaining organized needs some compromise. The technique for Tatum? Choosing his iso opportunities at his finest areas against the best matches, then expanding his collection. A vibrant scorer draws a lots of attention, which suggests theres offense to be produced for the other four men. When Tatum kicks the ball out and moves, the Celtics can put defenses in a mixer. If Tatum is flying around stagger-screens off the ball, the very same is real. He still gets a stable diet of shots, and four other Celtics can flow in motion (think Paul George throughout his leap and beyond). Everybody wins.
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Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combine for 40 points as the Celtics easily beat the Nets in Orlando 149-115.
The Celtics are still establishing, still improving their roles in an evolving offense and, in the cases of their pair of vibrant wings, Tatum and Jaylen Brown, still learning which tools to leave in the toolbox. With a single dribble, Tatum flew by Caris LeVert, then raised above Joe Harris to scoop the ball off the glass for an easy 2-pointer– simple for Tatum, at least. When Tatum kicks the ball out and relocates, the Celtics can put defenses in a blender. The Celtics 5 finest players– Walker, Smart, Tatum, Brown and Hayward– make up one of the NBAs many adaptable groups on both sides of the ball. With Tatum and Brown, the Celtics are making great on that goal.
Brown is an interesting complement to Tatum. A Swiss army knife, Brown creates most of his shots within the flow of the offense, just like teammate Marcus Smart. With each passing season, hes utilizing his exceptional strength to get to his areas– more out of Kawhi Leonards book than Georges. Importantly, he doesnt lose his game or confidence if the ball does not pertain to him. Successful groups require generalists like Brown, who bring an unusual combination of confidence and altruism.
An exhibit of Browns strength producing chances for himself outside the boundaries of a set offense came simply prior to halftime Wednesday. On a broken play, Smart confined a loose ball and drove, only to fulfill a number of Nets protectors and kick the ball out to Brown on the perimeter. With a little shot phony, Brown squeezed through a number of defenders, then bumped off 2 more underneath the basket to muscle a layup off the glass. He completed with a game-high 21 points, consisting of a torrid 5-for-9 night from 3-point range.Monday through Friday, host Pablo Torre brings you a within look at the most intriguing stories at ESPN, as informed by the leading press reporters and insiders on earth. Listen.
Both Tatum and Brown are linchpins of a disciplined, tight defense that starts with Smart, and this is an essential part of their appeal. When opponents look to assault Walker, the Celtics are professional at switching back to kick him out of the matchup.
When we consider groups who craft their strategy for a bunch of big, border, ability gamers who can shoot, Boston isnt the very first that enters your mind. The Celtics five best gamers– Walker, Smart, Tatum, Brown and Hayward– make up one of the NBAs many adaptable teams on both sides of the ball. All but Smart shoot greater than 38% from beyond the arc (Smart hovers at 35%). Each has an adequate handle that can initiate offense, and each can switch onto almost any NBA match.
The most fascinating concern for the Celtics headed into the postseason is how aggressively they will release that “Best Five” system. In 3 minutes, 28 seconds Tuesday against Miami, the Heats Bam Adebayo exploited the match, with 7 points during that short stretch, consisting of 8 totally free throw attempts. More disappointingly, the Celtics converted only one field goal.
Its a fantastic unidentified (the gamers recorded just 15 minutes together prior to the bubble this season) with substantial advantage and drawback. In a catastrophic world, the Celtics will miss out on Theis size and presence, as well as his Marcin Gortat-esque screening genius– subsequently producing more outcomes like Tuesday.
The Boston Celtics are currently the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Celtics irregular performance throughout the very first week of the bubble is of limited issue. Walker continues to work his way back from a knee injury– he remained Wednesday nights back-to-back– and Stevens highlighted after Tuesdays loss that the mindful management of Walkers minutes in Orlando is a reflection more of care than issue.
” Hes continuing to reinforce right now,” Stevens stated. By then, in the playoffs, hell be great.”.
Walkers pick-and-roll proficiency will be a crucial active ingredient in Bostons playoff run, along with Smarts ability to contain and emotional leadership and the healthy Haywards second-side playmaking. But the Celtics 2019-20 season– and their promising future– rests on the continuing maturation of Tatum and Brown.
The front workplaces objective in collecting a chest of draft choices throughout their restore was constantly basic, even if their procurement was complex: Turn those assets into championship-caliber stars. With Tatum and Brown, the Celtics are making great on that goal. The summer season of 2020 will be the biggest test yet.
