Upon further review, I really didn’t like the shots Jayson Tatum took against the Houston Rockets. Look, I’m all for the three-pointers, I get it. But forcing them? That’s where I draw the line.
There were a couple of plays that stood out to me. In the first half, Tatum had a pick-and-pop situation where he could’ve easily dribbled into the middle of the lane. Instead, he settled for a contested three. Sometimes, when you’re trying to get your rhythm, a simple dribble into a free-throw line jumper can do wonders. Just that little gooseneck up, watch it go through the net, and boom – you’re back in business.
Then there was this fast break in the third quarter. Tatum had a clear lane to the basket but didn’t even look at it. He was hunting for a three when an easy layup or potential foul was right there for the taking. It’s frustrating because we’ve seen Tatum make that exact play later in the game, getting the foul and the layup.
Here’s the thing: Tatum’s a superstar, and superstars get some leeway. They can do things that make you go, “What a bad... oh, never mind, he made that.” But when you’re forcing it, especially when you’re cold from three, it’s a problem.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Tatum needs to get back to his bread and butter. Drive to the rim, get those other shots to fall, and then the threes will come naturally. It’s not about avoiding threes altogether – it’s about not forcing them when they’re not falling.
The end-of-game execution for the Celtics? Well, let’s just say it wasn’t their smoothest performance. That Alperen Sengun dunk? There’s a whole debate about what went wrong there. Was it miscommunication? A defensive breakdown? We’ll have to break that down further.
Are the Celtics underachieving this year, or did they overachieve last year? It’s a question worth pondering, especially after a loss like this. But let’s not forget the circumstances: no Derrick White, no Al Horford, no Sam Hauser, first game back from a long road trip, and the Rockets are on fire right now.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Celtics’ recent performance and future outlook, tune into the Locked On Celtics podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Celtics Podcast:
• Breakdown of the final plays against the Rockets
• Jrue Holiday’s impact on the team’s performance
• Celtics’ expectations vs. reality for the season
