By two video games, Jayson Tatum has been Wingstopped.
The 2 Knicks wings, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, have shut down the Celtics’ six-time All-Star.
After averaging 31.3 factors and capturing 44.7 % from the sphere within the opening-round collection victory over the Magic, Tatum has been held to 18 factors on 28.6 % capturing within the Jap Convention semifinals.
He additionally has dedicated eight turnovers within the two video games.
The lasting picture of the Knicks’ 20-point comeback to win Recreation 2 was of Tatum being swarmed by Bridges and Anunoby on the ultimate possession, and having his desperation cross stolen by Bridges as time ran out.
“I take full ownership of the way that I’ve played in this series,” Tatum stated in Boston on Thursday. “I can’t sugarcoat anything. I need to be better. And I expect to be a lot better.”
The Celtics will want him to be in the event that they’re going to rally from this 0-2 collection gap.
His shaky efficiency has been a shock.
Tatum is coming off a terrific common season — when he averaged 26.8 factors, 8.7 rebounds and a career-best 6.0 assists. In 4 regular-season video games towards the Knicks, he was nearly unstoppable — producing 33.5 factors, 7.0 assists and capturing a whopping 53.5 % from the sphere.
On that remaining possession, Tatum was initially guarded by Knicks middle Mitchell Robinson on a change.
He tried to drive previous Robinson, then dribbled towards the baseline, the place Anunoby and Bridges helped off their males. Tatum had nowhere to go.
“I just made the wrong read,” he stated. “Went into a crowded area. Obviously, if I had that opportunity again, or the next time it presented itself, it’d have a different outcome.”
The Celtics’ points transcend Tatum.
They’ve shot poorly from 3-point vary (25 %).
Kristaps Porzingis (27 minutes in two video games) has been considerably restricted by an sickness associated to the higher respiratory subject that compelled him to overlook eight contests in March.
And the Knicks have been the much better group within the clutch, outscoring the Celtics by 25 factors within the fourth quarter of the 2 video games and additional time.
“I appreciate the fact that he would [take ownership of the losses], but I think it’s on everybody,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla stated. “We all could be better. I could be better in the things that I can help our team execute, our entire team could be better. And yeah, he can too. So, just as he is taking responsibility for that, I expect him to be better.”
