Over the last week, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics has faced some struggles, missing pivotal shots, giving up painful turnovers, and not looking like his regular self.
On Monday night, Tatum scored 26 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers in a big 121-99 win.
After the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla spoke with the press about Tatum’s performance and gave his star player some defense.
According to a video shared by NBACentral, Mazzulla listed Tatum’s stats for the night.
“He had 26, 8, and 5…when [Tyrese] Maxey did that, you said we couldn’t stop him,” Mazzulla said, stepping up for Tatum and claiming he deserves more respect.
Joe Mazzulla defends Jayson Tatum after last night’s performance
“Had 26, 8 and 5… when Maxey did that, you said we couldn’t stop him.”
(h/t @NoaDalzellNBA )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 12, 2024
Mazzulla sees nothing wrong with how Tatum is playing and said that he’s still performing as a great team leader.
He thinks that Tatum has changed the way he plays a bit because the Celtics’ new-look roster for the season demands that.
Some fans are upset by Tatum’s numbers, noting that he had a 39.1% field goal and 25% three-point percentage on Monday night against the Blazers.
Although he is still putting up admirable numbers, they are concerned by the mistakes he is making and how many of his shots aren’t landing.
Even if Tatum has been in a bit of a rough patch lately, he is still having a supremely strong season.
The MVP candidate is posting 26.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, shooting 47.2% from the floor and 37.4% from the three-point line.
And, of course, the Celtics remain the best team in the NBA.
At this point, the Celtics need to start thinking ahead to the playoffs because they will definitely make it and have a lot to prove.
Some people may take issue with Tatum’s playing right now but what matters most is how well he performs in the postseason.
NEXT: Analyst Notes Jayson Tatum Is 'At His Best' When He Embraces 1 Role