NBA Analyst Explains Why Celtics Still Need Jayson Tatum Despite Shocking Dominance originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics have been shockingly phenomenal without Jayson Tatum this season, going 41-21 in his absence. They’ve been stellar on both ends of the floor, ranking second in offensive rating and sixth in defensive rating.
However, they still need Tatum, especially if they want to make a deep playoff run and compete for a title this spring.
The Celtics proved that over the last week during their blowout losses to the Denver Nuggets and Charlotte Hornets. They’ve been a great regular-season team but still struggle against elite competition.
NBA analyst Jason Timpf explained why Boston still needs Tatum on Thursday’s episode of “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd.
One reason is that Tatum gives the Celtics’ defense more versatility with his ability to guard centers on switches.
“Jayson Tatum’s ability to guard centers gave the Celtics the ability to switch most ball screens, and it was one of the primary driving forces behind them winning the title, most famously breaking that Dallas offense by putting Tatum on centers and switching all of those ball screens,” Timpf said. “They need Jayson Tatum. He unlocks their defensive versatility.”
Another reason is that Tatum helps unlock Boston’s offense with his passing and scoring ability, taking a lot of the offensive pressure off Jaylen Brown.
“Jayson Tatum gives you another guy who can kind of alleviate that burden on Jaylen Brown. Specifically, Jayson Tatum is a much better passer,” Timpf added. “Ultimately, it will make them more versatile on both ends of the floor and make them a much better team against the best competition around the league.”
Fortunately for the Celtics, Tatum may return as soon as Friday, giving him over a month to get back in the swing of things before the playoffs.
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