Ex-Boston Celtics champion Kendrick Perkins mentioned Jayson Tatum’s crunch-time struggles throughout a one-on-one interview with Sam Yip of HoopsHype, and the previous 6-foot-10 middle might have the proper answer.
“I believe typically you gotta run misdirection and different instances, you might need to run performs for different gamers. You do have Jrue Vacation on the roster, he’s battle-tested, and also you do have Derrick White,” Perkins mentioned.
“[Former Celtics coach] Doc Rivers used to at all times say, ‘Simply because I draw up your play doesn’t imply it’s your shot.’ And I believe the world has painted this narrative that if superstars don’t take the final shot, they don’t have a killer mindset and that’s not the case.
“Proper now, the Celtics are displaying that they’re susceptible. … I don’t consider there’s no different group within the NBA that has extra strain than the Boston Celtics.”
—@KendrickPerkins pic.twitter.com/QfuuB4leOU
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 29, 2024
“We’ve got seen time and time once more when LeBron James handed up on photographs and bought nice photographs for others, wide-open appears to be like.”
Tatum is 2-for-8 (25%) capturing within the last minute of one-possession video games this season. He has additionally shot 36.1% from the sphere and 19.7% from 3-point vary within the clutch the final three seasons, in accordance with the Basketball-Reference database.
Kendrick Perkins believes the Boston Celtics’ actual season with Jayson Tatum begins April twentieth
In Boston’s 123-122 time beyond regulation loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday evening, Tatum recorded 31 factors, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists in 45 minutes of motion. The five-time All-Star missed the potential game-winner on an off-balance 3-point try late within the fourth quarter.
In 4 seasons since his NBA debut, Tatum was 14-for-27 (51.9% capturing from the ground, 3-of-11 on 3-pointers) when taking a shot to tie or take lead within the final minute of the fourth quarter or time beyond regulation.
The seven-year veteran is now 10-for-37 (27% capturing from the sphere; 2-of-9 on 3-pointers) in three seasons since, together with 2-for-11 this season. One other issue to think about is Tatum’s shot choice within the clutch.
Jayson Tatum within the clutch – final 3 seasons:
36.1% FG19.7% 3PT pic.twitter.com/vzz7JHXgzs
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) March 29, 2024
Moreover, Kendrick Perkins insinuated that Boston ought to get its disappointing losses out of the best way proper now, contemplating the 2024 NBA Playoffs start Saturday, April 20.
“I’ve been saying this all season lengthy… nothing that the Celtics do within the common season goes to impress me. Their season really begins April 20,” Perkins added. “So, I’ve to see if Kristaps Porzingis is gonna be capable to maintain up health-wise. Is he gonna be capable to play at a 20 and 10 standing each single evening?
“When he has to match up with a man like Giannis [Antetokounmpo], is he gonna be capable to maintain his personal as a result of that’s gonna be key. And likewise, Jayson Tatum, him and Jaylen Brown, in shut video games, can they be these guys to shut out these shut video games and be capable to go toe-to-toe. That’s what it’s gonna be based mostly on.”
The Celtics misplaced in seven video games to the Miami Warmth in final 12 months’s Japanese Convention Finals.