The Brooklyn Nets are currently on the ropes as the Boston Celtics are up 3-0 against them in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
No one in the history of the league has come back from a 3-0 deficit so unless the Nets make literal history, their season is about to end.
But with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and others on the team, how could things be going so badly for Brooklyn?
Jayson Tatum defending Kevin Durant this series, per NBA tracking data:
27:01 matchup time
120.9 possessions
10 points
2-15 FG (13.3%)
0-4 3PT (0%)
10 turnovers
2 blocks
2 shooting fouls— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) April 24, 2022
A huge part of their losses has to do with Jayson Tatum, who is really putting the hurt on Durant.
According to NBA tracking data, Tatum has kept Durant limited to 10 points, zero three-pointers, 10 turnovers, and 2 shooting fouls during one-on-one matchups.
Instead of looking like one of the best players in the league, Durant is instead looking clumsy and intimidated.
Is Tatum’s defense the key to Boston’s postseason success?
Towering Tatum
During this first round, Tatum has been putting up 26.9 points, 8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists a game.
That is only a small portion of the work Tatum has been doing on the floor.
He has been tasked with stopping Durant and has been doing so excellently.
That’s not an easy goal since Durant is one of the best shooters and players in the NBA.
Yet, he’s been putting up 22 points a game during the playoffs so far, which is a huge drop from his 29.9 a game during the regular season.
His field goal percentage has dropped from 51.8% to 36.5%.
It’s even worse when he’s going up against Tatum: Durant then only has a 13.3% field goal percentage.
When the book on this first round is finally written there needs to be quite a few chapters about Tatum and his shut-down defense against Durant.
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