The Boston Celtics are 7-3 since Jayson Tatum returned and have done all that while struggling to make shots. Boston is 25th in 3-point percentage over the last ten games, despite being third in attempts. Fans know head coach Joe Mazzulla wants his team firing away from long range. To see the Celtics already winning when the shots aren’t falling is terrifying for the rest of the NBA.
Tatum is averaging 19.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in 30.3 minutes per game over his first nine contests. He is shooting just 39.1 percent from the field and 30.9 percent on his threes. The six-time All-Star missed ten months after Achilles surgery. He has looked as good as anyone could have expected. Yes, Tatum is struggling by his lofty standards, but getting him right makes the Celtics title favorites.
It isn't just Tatum struggling to make shots. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser are all connecting on less than 32 percent from 3-point range since the superstar’s return. Payton Pritchard and Baylor Scheierman are the only two consistently making 3-pointers over that stretch. Celtics fans know that won’t last, which means better days are ahead.
Celtics are winning games without making shots since Jayson Tatum’s return
Boston has already defeated the Thunder and the Cavaliers since JT started playing. They also have wins over the Suns and Warriors, who are Play-In Tournament bound over this stretch. The Celtics are beating quality teams without making shots.
Jaylen isn’t shooting 30.0 percent from 3-point range for long. White has connected on over 38 percent for three straight seasons, and Hauser is the Celtics’ best shooter. The jumpers will quickly start falling for all three players, and fans know Tatum will round into form. It will take the superstar some time, but each game should be a little bit better than the last.
Tatum is already making Boston better in several areas. He is bought in on rebounding and boosting Brown in any way possible. The Celtics are significantly better with JT in the lineup and still haven’t played their best basketball.
No team should want to face them in the playoffs. The Eastern Conference will go through Boston again. The Celtics are already second in the standings and have only gotten nine games from their best player.
Mazzulla is an elite coach, and everyone is bought into his system. Boston will be firing away from long range, and more of those shots will soon fall. It will make the Celtics a legit title threat and the scariest team in the Eastern Conference.
Boston Celtics fans knew Jayson Tatum would improve their chances, but even the biggest supporters didn’t expect this. The team keeps winning, despite struggling to hit 3-pointers. Their gap year narrative died months ago, and Tatum is quickly squashing the doubts about his return. The Celtics are a legit title threat and will only play better from here. Don’t look now, but this may be the eventual champs. All they need to do is start making jumpers.