The Boston Celtics have a 2-0 lead within the 2024 NBA Finals, however there’s some motive for concern proper now.
For one, heart Kristaps Porzingis is as soon as once more harm, this time with a uncommon leg harm, and his standing for Recreation 3 is up within the air.
On the similar time, Jayson Tatum, their finest participant, is struggling offensively.
He’s averaging simply 17.0 factors a sport on 31.6 % taking pictures within the Finals to date, and he did publicly admit he must be extra environment friendly whereas additionally saying he wants to seek out different methods to assist his staff win, per NBC Sports activities Boston.
“I do need to shoot the ball better. I wouldn’t disagree with anybody on that… I’m still trying to find ways to impact the game in other areas.”
– Jayson Tatum (averaging 17 factors, 8.5 assists, 10 rebounds in first two video games) addresses fixation on his scoring forward of Recreation 3 pic.twitter.com/5fvWkoEVTi
— Celtics on NBC Sports activities Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 11, 2024
Proper now, it seems Boston is clearly a greater staff than the Dallas Mavericks, their opponent within the championship collection, however there’s loads of basketball left to be performed, and issues may change rapidly.
Dallas can rapidly make this a aggressive collection if Tatum continues to overlook on a constant foundation.
The issue is that Tatum is beginning to construct a historical past of enjoying poorly on the largest stage.
When his Celtics misplaced the championship to the Golden State Warriors two years in the past, he shot simply 36.7 % in that collection and was over 43 % in simply one of many six video games performed.
In Recreation 7 of the 2023 Japanese Convention Finals towards the Miami Warmth, with seemingly all the pieces going Boston’s means, Tatum went out meekly with 14 factors on 5-of-13 taking pictures in a blowout loss at house.
That is his alternative to vary that budding narrative, however one other Celtics loss within the Finals will probably have individuals questioning whether or not Tatum has that canine in him.
