Jayson Tatum doesn’t have “IT”, but he can get it.
The Celtics survived the Warriors last night 121 - 118. Tatum filled the stat sheet with 34 points, 19 rebounds, and 6 assists. He also only shot 9 - 27 and had seven turnovers. Three of those turnovers came until 3 minutes left as the team was making their come back and looking to salt the game away.
It’s not just the numbers, though. The eye test tells you that when it gets down to that last moment Tatum panics or tightens up, etc. There is not a killer instinct. Instincts are just that though. They are instinctual. That is to say Tatum is not a natural born killer like his idol Kobe. That doesn’t mean he can’t learn how to finish. Like another idol, Lebron.
Let’s not do the Lebron comparison thing, but lets. The biggest knock on Bron Bron the beginning of his career was his inability to close games. Whether it was passing too much, or forcing it, or just missing the shot. Lebron had to learn how to become a closer. Tatum is similar in this regard. Tatum’s basketball IQ is massive. He has improved his game every single year he’s been in the league. He’s still only 24 years old. If I were to put it in football terms Tatum is deep in the Red Zone when it comes to being “that” guy at the end of games.
He had 13 points in the 4th quarter and OT. He hit the massive three in OT to extend the lead. He was 12 - 12 from the line. BUT, he coughed up the ball horrendously in the final stretch of the 4th, looked timid, and his shot was tight. The moment just looked too big. Too much pressure, game sped up, however your want to describe it. “IT” is not something you are exclusively born with. Tatum surely wasn’t, but I believe he can and will one day soon develop that skill has he has continued to develop and grow his skill set over the past six seasons.
I look at Al Horford as an example of this too. AL as a 36 year old veteran has learned to play in these moments. Clearly he’s not the same caliber of player, but as a young perennial All Star Al Horford’s Hawks underachieved in multiple years. The dude has been through it.
Jaylen Brown has more of “IT” and has shown that a number of times. He needs to be given more opportunities in games like this. Lets be clear though. With out Tatum on the floor, Jaylen Brown does not get the looks and opportunities he’s had to come through in these spots. These clutch and late spots need to be executed with both Brown and Tatum at least this year to maximize the success.
As an aside, Marcus Smart has fake “IT”. He’s hit a miracle 3 that means nothing with four minutes left in the 4th and dive for a loose ball and look “Clutch” making “winning plays”. Then he’ll blow game 4 at home or toss away 2 turnovers in OT.
For the Celtics to win the championship Tatum is going to have to push through at least a few more yards in the Red Zone this year. In order for them to be contenders for multiple year he’ll have to find the end zone. Let’s just hope he doesn’t have to see the Warriors again.
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