The Boston Celtics were ice cold from 3-point range during their first two Eastern Conference semifinal home outings against the New York Knicks. Ahead of Saturday’s crucial Game 3 road tilt, Celtics superstar forward Jayson Tatum took a ho-hum approach, with his lack of urgency irritating NBA fans.
Boston entered Round 2 as heavy favorites over New York after sweeping their regular-season series 4-0. However, between subpar outside shooting and questionable late-game execution, the defending NBA champions blew 20-point third-quarter leads in Games 1 and 2.
Despite trailing the Knicks 2-0, Tatum doesn’t see a problem with his squad standing by its core principles.
Jayson Tatum Urges Boston To Stay True to Its Identity in Game 3, Frustrating NBA Fans
The Celtics have shot a combined 25-for-100 from deep (25%) to open the series, with calls mounting for the team to switch up its 3-point-heavy play style. However, on Thursday, Tatum touched on the Celtics’ long-range shooting woes, asserting that it’s not time for them to panic and overhaul their offensive strategy.
“We have a way that we play. We have an identity. And it can’t waver just because we’re missing shots,” Tatum said. “We can’t change who we are.”
Jayson Tatum: "We have a way that we play. We have an identity. And it can't waver just because we're missing shots. We can't change who we are."
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell)
That seemingly wasn’t the answer fans were hoping to hear, as several blasted the six-time All-Star for being too complacent.
“This the answer of a child. They’re toast,” one fan said.
This the answer of a child. They're toast.
— Robert O'Hara (@rob_ohara)
“Yeah we done lol,” another quipped.
“Typical Tatum bullsh*t answer,” one user wrote.
Meanwhile, others called out Boston for its lack of adaptability.
“I feel like it’s okay to change when its not working,” one fan commented.
“No, but enough with the 3-ball. Simply put,” another remarked.
“Nobodies asking them to change their philosophy, you absolutely have to make adjustments based on your output,” one reasoned.
“Disagree. Need to be able to adapt. It’s why you’ve lost 2 games in a row to an inferior team,” another weighed in.
Tatum’s statement comes after they made a league-leading and NBA record-setting 17.8 triples a night during the regular season.
Tatum Says Celtics Failed To Capitalize on Open Looks in Games 1 and 2
Elaborating on Boston’s struggles from beyond the arc during its last two losses, Tatum expressed satisfaction with his team’s shot selection.
“We got some really, really good looks from 3. We missed a lot of bunnies, a lot of layups,” Tatum said. “Those are tough because guys work really hard on their game and their craft, and prepare to be in those moments to hit open shots.”
Through two Round 2 contests, Tatum is averaging 18.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 2.5 3s per game. However, he is shooting just 12-for-42 (28.6%), including 5-for-20 (25.0%) from downtown.
The four-time All-NBA selectee also committed a costly turnover with the Celtics down by one point in the final seconds of Wednesday’s 91-90 Game 2 defeat.
Thus, he has plenty of room for improvement offensively as the series transitions to New York for Game 3.
