In the eyes of many, Jayson Tatum’s 100th career playoff game in the Celtics’ Game 1 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers was a dud. Tatum finished with just 18 points on 7-of-19 (36.8%) and missed all five of his three-point attempts.
However, when Joe Mazzulla took to the podium after the game, he was quick to praise his All-NBA wing.
“I thought he played an overall well-rounded game. His passing, his screening, allowed for those other guys to get open looks,” Mazzulla said. “Success will look different every night for each player. But at the end of the day, you can’t be defined by one thing, and you gotta compete at both ends of the floor.”
Upon reviewing the game footage as the Celtics reconvened at the Auerbach Center for practice on Wednesday afternoon, Mazzulla appeared increasingly satisfied with Tatum’s performance in Game 1.
“I don’t think he’s being forced to do anything,” Mazzulla said.
“He [averaged] 1.6 [points per possession] as a screener in our offense yesterday, so that would be the best offense in the history of the world. He had 11 potential assists, and he had 18 points and three blocks. So, I think he’s doing a great job of taking what the defense [is] giving and finding any way to impact the game on both ends of the floor. That’s what we need him to be, and I think he’s doing a really good job of it.”
Criticism has surrounded Tatum’s playoff performance, particularly regarding his scoring average of 21.2 points per game, his lowest postseason mark in four years, and career-worst shooting splits of 40.6% from the field and 25.0% from deep.
These shooting performances might have been detrimental to the Celtics in years past. However, not this time around.
Despite Tatum’s struggles, through just six postseason games, the Celtics have tied their franchise record for most 20-point wins in a postseason. All three teams to reach that mark (1959, 2008, 2022) reached the NBA Finals, with two of them bringing home the Larry O’Brien trophy (1959, 2008).
Obviously, the depth of talent across the entire roster is a factor in that. However, the development of Tatum’s game is equally important. As he has shown this postseason, he’s no longer just a scorer.
Tatum leads the Celtics in rebounds (63) and assists (32) and is tied for first in blocks (6) this postseason. Additionally, he has only turned the ball over 10 times, and opponents are shooting 19-of-46 (41.3%) against him.
“People can have bad shooting nights, but what is he doing – he had some great defensive plays. He made the easy passes which led to assists – big rebounds, what’d he end up with, 11 rebounds? It’s just the casuals who think it’s only about just the shots,” Payton Pritchard said.
“There are so many areas he can affect the game – if he only ends up with 18 points, but we win by 25 points, he was really impactful.”
Tatum hasn’t often found himself in one-on-one situations this postseason. But when he does, he’s quick to attack. And when he’s met with defensive pressure, he stays focused, making the right plays and using the attention on him to create for his teammates – the kind of stuff that won’t appear in the stat sheet.
“I think he’s becoming a playmaker – or he’s being a playmaker,” Jrue Holiday said.” Not that he is being a sacrificial lamb, but he is making a lot of the right plays. He takes his chances where people are going to double-team him, and he’s gonna take some of those shots, but I think he’s getting everybody open looks.”
The Celtics will undoubtedly need Tatum’s shots to fall if they are going to accomplish their ultimate goal. Yet, that doesn’t mean they need him to take 30 shots. Tatum is at his best when he gets others involved, as it opens the game for himself.
“Jayson is more than just a scorer,” Holiday added. “He’s a complete basketball player who does everything. So I think to be able to damn near average a triple-double every single game is something that he can do.”
The shots are eventually going to fall, and the Celtics know that.
“I think he’s taken really good shots,” Mazzulla said. “I just think they’re not falling and urge him to continue to take those, and they’ll fall.”
Look at Tatum’s past 100 postseason games for any reassurance you may need. His 2,363 career postseason points rank second in Celtics franchise history, trailing just Larry Bird (2,397) and 19th all-time among NBA players through their first 100 playoff games.
Moreover, Tatum is one of three players in NBA history to achieve at least 2,300 points, 750 rebounds, and 450 assists in their first 100 playoff games, alongside Bird and LeBron James.
Pretty good company.
While Tatum waits to break out of this slump, the Celtics can rest assured that his presence will still be felt.
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