Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum made history Monday night, but probably not the kind he had in mind, setting an NBA record for the most turnovers in a single postseason. Tatum now has 95 turnovers, one more than LeBron James committed in 2018.
It’s an embarrassing record to be associated with and indicative of Tatum’s struggles, particularly in this series (even after going a respectable 10-for-20 in Monday night’s loss to Golden State, easily his best shooting performance of these Finals, Tatum’s field-goal percentage still sits at a dismal 36.7). However, it’s not as damning as you may think.
Statistics like these often don’t tell the whole story, with a certain level of context required to paint a more comprehensive picture. Though perhaps not as dominant as he was during portions of the regular season, it would be disingenuous to frame this as a historically bad postseason for Tatum, whose high turnover total is mostly a product of his enormous volume, logging an exhausting 41 minutes per game.
Not only is Tatum playing heavy minutes for a team about to enter its 24th postseason game (two shy of the league mark set by Boston in 2008), but he’s also been the Celtics’ primary ball-handler, averaging over six assists per game. Giannis Antetokounmpo (4.5) and James Harden (4.2) have both averaged more turnovers than Tatum (4.1) these playoffs, while four of the top five in postseason turnovers are either in the Hall of Fame already (Larry Bird and Shaquille O’Neal) or will be in the very near future (LeBron and Dwyane Wade).
Still, it’s hardly a badge of honor for Tatum, who has continually shrunk in big moments, including his implosion down the stretch in Game 5, dooming the Celtics with his questionable shot selection and careless handling of the basketball. Whether he’s fatigued, overwhelmed or more injured than he’s publicly acknowledged (he suffered a stinger against Miami in the Conference Finals), Tatum has not been the same player we saw in previous rounds, appearing tentative while struggling with uncharacteristic mental lapses, particularly at the free-throw line, where he’s shot just 65 percent this series.
Boston has shown impressive resilience throughout these playoffs, though it’s going to take a vintage effort from Tatum in Game 6—and again in Game 7 if they survive to see another 48 minutes—for the Celtics to avoid going home empty-handed.
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