Jayson Tatum Is Currently Entering The Part Of His Season Where He Turns Into Basketball Jesus

Carmen Mandato. Getty Images.

At this point, I think it's fair to suggest that the BOS/MIA rivalry doesn't quite hit like it used to. Maybe part of that is the departure of Jimmy Butler, maybe part of that is the fact that the Celtics have now beaten the Heat 5 straight times and have won 9 of their last 10 meetings, but what was easily the best and most consistent rivalry in the East doesn't quite have the same juice anymore. Maybe that changes in a potential playoff series this Spring, but as things stand at the moment, it's over.

On the surface, this had all the makings of your classic Celtics trap game. You know what those are, the ones where the other team is missing their best players, the Celts are missing some guys as well, and they sleepwalk through the game. Suddenly, some Heat Dark Magic combined with low energy and effort results in another very frustrating and very avoidable loss. Go up and down the Celts schedule this year and you can find a handful of games just like that. Shit, we just saw it a few days ago against the depleted Mavs.

The only difference and why I believe we got the opposite effort was perhaps because in this game, the Celts still weren't double digit favorites. Had they been, there's a high likelihood the Celts lose this game. Those dogshit jerseys, missing 2 starters combined with playing a team missing their best players all paired with a double digit spread is the very definition of the kiss of death for this Celtics team. 

Instead, we witnessed another ass kicking. Another dominant showing on the road to improve to an NBA best 22-6. I think we all wanted to see a strong run to close out the schedule into the All Star Break, and that's pretty much what has happened

Suddenly, the Celts have won 9 of their last 12 and 6 of their last 7. If this feels familiar, it's because we saw something very similar from this team at this time last season heading into the break

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only to then rip off another 5 game streak once games picked up again after the All Star Break. This is why I keep stressing that maintaining perspective is important when talking about this team. It's why all that fake outrage and panic over their collective slump made no sense. We'd literally seen it before in the prior season, and here we are, essentially at last year's record pace despite a much different injury situation and with the entire team unable to hit a jumper for 6 weeks. Pretty impressive! 

As I've said before, this part of the NBA schedule is all about stacking Ws. It's the dog days of the season, everyone is just trying to get to the All Star Break healthy, so I don't really care how they do it, just find a way to win.

If that means going on the road and giving the Heat another belt to ass performance? Even better.

The Good

- You can always tell when we're inching closer and closer to the part of Jayson Tatum's season when he turns into Basketball Jesus. It's a tradition you can pretty much set your watch to every season, and it looks a whole lot like this

Immediately after becoming the King Of New York for the beatdown he gave the Knicks at MSG, I am happy to report that Tatum has now also assumed the role of King Of South Beach in his 3rd vacation home in Miami, the Garden South. He's really starting to create a nice little real estate portfolio for himself, now owning the TD Garden, MSG, and whatever the hell they call that arena in Miami. 

This game changed when Tatum decided to wake up after a not so great first half, which he even admitted after the game was sparked by his subpar play early

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What we saw in the 3rd quarter for the second straight game was what things look like when Jayson Tatum plays pissed off and is aggressive offensively. When the opposing team doesn't have anyone on the roster who can handle Tatum on the perimeter and he plays engaged basketball, we witness greatness

It's really important you notice what is also going on around Tatum during this quarter, and it sheds some light on why Joe Mazzulla is so obsessed with maintaining proper spacing. To be blunt, spacing is everything. Maintaining their spacing is what helps open up driving lanes for Tatum to abuse smaller, weaker defenders. Giving him the room to decide how he wants to attack his matchup is how he becomes unguardable. If he wants to take a pull up 3PA, it's there. If he wants to be aggressive and drive to the rim, it's there, if he wants to draw defenders and kick out for open 3s, they're there. All of that comes back to spacing. 

Shooters on the perimeter, guys in the dunker spot, when this team combines an aggressive Tatum with proper spacing, there is not a defense on the planet that can consistently stop them. Sorry if that offends, but it's the truth. 

It's really no different than the 19 point 3rd quarter we saw against the Knicks in the prior game. Until a team can show they have a solve for Tatum in the P&R (you don't), once he gets going there really isn't a way to stop him. You just have to pray he misses, but he's also giving you elite playmaking during these runs, so even if his shot isn't falling he's going to find a way to bury you. It's why he's arguably one of the most complete players in the entire league.

Considering this was a game Tatum probably shouldn't have even played in so they could finally get him his well deserved rest, that's the other part of the equation that makes Tatum so special. He plays. You have to cut hit leg off in order to get him to have a load management day, and it's easily one of the best parts about him being your franchise player

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- We don't get it often since it's the regular season, but every few games against certain teams, we see Al Horford turn back the clock and empty the tank. We saw it against CLE and we saw it again last night

His 16/10 on 6-11 (4-6) was his highest scoring double double of the season, he added a couple blocks to the mix and overall looked spry as shit defensively. It was just a nice reminder that when he needs to, Al Horford delivers. It's why I'll never, ever, ever worry about Al over the course of 82 games. When we need him, he will be there.

In a game like this down 2 starters, it was crucial that the "others" made sure to knock down their open looks. Tatum was going to harness so much defensive attention, that guys like Horford were going to have as many clean looks as they want, and man was it a relief to see these shots drop at the rate we're all used to.

It also helps illustrate that during their slumping stretch, all it really came down to was guys missing open looks. There's no issue with the offensive strategy or the approach, guys just need to make shots. To no surprise, now that guys like Hauser, White, Horford etc are all back to hitting their safety valve open C&S 3PA that the Celts are back to winning at an .800 clip. Funny how that works! Putting the ball in the basket is actually good. Who knew??

While it probably won't happen, I'd be open to rewarding Al for this performance with an early start to his All Star Break. He did his part in the CLE/NYK/MIA wins, so let him rest up and we'll see him again at the end of the month.

- I'm ready to declare it, I've seen enough. Sam Hauser is officially #BACK

I'll go back even further. Over Hauser's last 26 games, so since Christmas, he's shooting 44.1% from 3 on 4.8 3PA. He talked about how his body is starting to feel better and back to his old self, and the results speak for themselves. When he's back to being this pure from deep, it changes a lot about how teams are forced to defend the Celts

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Making the spot start in this game, Hauser had a pretty clear role in my opinion. Make your open looks and play passable defense. Considering he went 5-8 (5-8) and was a +17 in his minutes, I'd say he did exactly what he needed to do as a fill in starter. 

- Whenever the Celts play the Heat and walk away with only 6 TOs and low points off TOs it will always be mentioned in this section. To anyone who has watched this matchup since the Bubble, you should know that pretty much every single Celtics loss comes with a high TO and high opponent points off TO number. If you force them to beat you in the half court, they can't. Their offense stinks. But if you are careless with the ball with live ball turnovers and allow the Heat to get out and score in transition, they mix in some Dark Magic from behind the arc and pull off the upset.

So to see that once again, Joe Mazulla had the perfect plan and counter for everything that Spo tried to throw at him was not only great to see, it wasn't surprising. Joe has coached circles around Spo for years now. You don't win 9 of 10 and like 13 of 15 dating back to 2023 by not being able to counter what the opponent is trying to do.

For Tatum to have 0 TOs (!!!) against a Spo defense is a big deal. For Pritchard to play 36 minutes and have 0 TOs (!!!!) is a big deal. They forced the Heat to beat them with execution, and they couldn't, finishing with brutal 33/24% splits. 

- He's easily been the 2nd most consistent offensive player so far this season, and this was yet another example of why Brad Stevens traded for KP. He owns this matchup. Brad talked about it the day the trade went through and every game he's played it becomes clearer and clearer that the Heat simply do not have a matchup answer for this

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It's not Bam, it's not their new rookie 7fter, it doesn't exist. KP couldn't even make a 3PA to save his life and it didn't matter, because he was such a mismatch everywhere else (7-9). He also didn't even take a FT! But between the rim protection, the efficient 2pt production and the gravity that he demands when he's on the floor, in my opinion this was another example of KP being the ultimate cheat code.

He removes the Heat's ability to switch, he removes their paint/rim production, and his spacing opens up things for everyone else. 

I also think it's important that during the times when Tatum was going off, KP found ways to maintain the right spacing. He was on the perimeter, which is something this team needs to remember. KP post ups are great. They are a valuable weapon that the Celts should absolutely exploit. But there is a time and place. Personally, I prefer them to come in non-Tatum minutes when offensive efficiency is paramount. When Tatum is on the floor, play 5 out with KP. 

You can still have the same post up frequency (last year vs this year is basically the same), but unleashing it at the proper times is the only adjustment I think they need to make.

- Early in his career, if Payton Pritchard went 2-9 (1-8) it was going to be a game in which he made zero impact. Now? Even with an off shooting night Pritchard is able to find ways to impact winning. Last night it was his 10 rebounds and 8 assists with plus defense in his 36 minutes (+17). 

When you watch him play, you see a much more well rounded point guard in terms of generating offense. I feel WAY more comfortable with Pritchard orchestrating things in the halfcourt now than I did say, 2 or 3 years ago. The way he's continuing to improve reading defenses, the way he keeps his dribble alive now instead of picking it up and getting stuck every time he touches the paint, it's all the type of things you see as a guy gets more experience and has seen a bunch of different coverages. 

The best way I can describe it is there's no longer a sense of panic when Pritchard has the ball and things take time to develop. He has a much better feel for patience, while also making sure he remains a threat for however long he has the ball. 

- 1 lead chance, 0 ties with the Celts largest lead being 24. On the road, shorthanded. This team man, true Road Warriors. 

The Bad

- What wasn't so hot of course, was the Celts start. I believe they were a brutal 3-17 to open this game, and for a while there it looked like we were going to have a sleepy performance due to the Miami "Flu", considering their 18 points were the fewest they've scored in a first quarter in over a year.

Maybe it's just me, but I put all of that slow start on the horrendous jerseys. Enough with these things already. I'm not sure I can prove it, but I know in my heart that when the Celts wear these things they almost always start slow. All these embarrassing never should have happened losses? I'd bet they were wearing these lime green disasters in a majority of them. 

- Outside of his end of quarter prayer, this was a weird off shooting night for Derrick (3-10, 2-8), but he's another guy who still found ways to be impactful (7 assists) despite not really being able to make a shot.

I find this surprising because nobody loves that arena more than White. The way he completely rips out the heart of Heat fans every time he steps into that building is one of the best parts about Derrick White, so to not really get one of those performances was a bit disappointing. Especially on Derrick White Trade Day. I was certain we were in store for another 30+ performance after Jaylen/Jrue were ruled out, so to not get it was a bummer.

- Two separate sub 20 point quarters (1st and 4th) isn't exactly the best production we've ever seen. The 15 points in the 4th didn't bite them in the ass, but it still makes me annoyed that the final frame continues to be such a struggle for this team. Even in blowouts you can't execute in the final 12 minutes? Why are the Celts still the worst 4th quarter team in the NBA? Outside of that prayer comeback against PHI, it feels like the 4ths have been brutal ever since.

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- Seeing Tatum get whatever he wanted against Wiggins, and then Wiggins putting up 3-12 (2-8) on the other end was extremely triggering for me. That 2022 Finals was so fucking fake man. The fact that Wiggins is what robbed us of that title is so annoying, because he hasn't been close to that player since that series. That's probably going to haunt me forever if we're being honest.

The Ugly

- Only 9 total bench points wasn't great, but then again two of the main bench rotation players had to start, so maybe it should have been expected. The Pritchard 2-9 was a shock, and Baylor did have a couple 3s rim out, but even against a pretty bad Heat bench the Celts were still outscored 27-9.

Had their starters played with a pulse, perhaps this game would have been closer. 

- A Jordan Walsh DNP? That was weird. One would think this would have been the game/time in the schedule to let him loose and use his energy, so to not even touch the court was a bit odd. Especially when you were down a wing and a POA defender. 

We now turn the page to the biggest challenge of the Celtics season. Can they win their first home game following a road trip? They've lost their last 5 or 6 games in this exact spot, so now with Wemby coming to town tomorrow night, the Celts have a chance to end this stretch on a high note and enter the break with all the momentum in the world. At some point they have to figure their shit out at home, and tomorrow would be a great place to start.