Brandon Jennings recently called Jayson Tatum “soft,” and I’ve got some thoughts on that. First off, let’s be clear: this is pure shock value nonsense. Jennings’ logic is laughable at best. He’s essentially saying Tatum is soft because he didn’t win Finals MVP last year. By that logic, is Steph Curry soft because Andre Iguodala won Finals MVP? Of course not.
Tatum’s style of play isn’t about posterizing opponents or dominating every fourth quarter. He’s a team player who knows how to win. I’d take Tatum over a high-scoring player like Anthony Edwards any day. Edwards might put up big numbers, but he’s not a winning player yet. He’s too focused on himself at this point in his career.
The “soft” label on Tatum is ridiculous. He’s got a ring on his finger, and he conducts himself like a professional. That’s not soft – that’s being a mature, winning player.
Cavs running away with East
Now, let’s talk about the Celtics’ position in the East. The Cavs are on a tear, currently on a 73-win pace. It’s unlikely the Celtics will catch them, but here’s the thing: they don’t need to. Even as the second seed, I’m confident the Celtics can beat the Cavs in a playoff series. The matchups favor Boston, and they’ve shown they can handle Cleveland.
As for the Thunder, there’s been some talk about them surpassing the Celtics in various rankings. But again, I’m not worried. The Celtics are focused on themselves, not on chasing other teams. They know what it takes to win a championship, and they’re playing the long game.
Joe Mazzulla made an interesting point about post-consciousness versus unconsciousness. Teams like the Thunder and Cavs are in that unconscious phase, constantly chasing and trying to prove themselves. The Celtics, having been to the Finals, are in a post-conscious state. They know what it takes and aren’t going to expend unnecessary energy during the regular season.
It’s like the difference between an experienced predator and an inexperienced one. The Celtics know how to catch their prey efficiently, while younger teams might chase relentlessly without always succeeding.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Celtics’ mindset and strategy, tune into the Locked On Celtics podcast for this and much more in today’s mailbag episode.
