The entire TD Garden will have held its breath. We are in Game 3 of the last EST Conference finals, opposing the Heat to the Celtics. Jayson Tatum falls badly after a duel with Victor Oladipo and stays on the ground for long seconds, visibly hit in the right shoulder. But the guy is tough and the Celtics star will be back for Game 4, planting 31 pawns there. No, the problem, the real one will be felt over time, especially during the NBA Finals against the Warriors. Fortunately for Celtics fans, this injury only seems like a bad memory two months later.
Could things have been different for Boston if Jayson Tatum had been in full control in the Finals? We will probably never know, and the story is now what it is, Golden State today has an additional banner on the ceiling of the Chase Center. Author of a remarkable playoff campaign so far, JT will however have been embarrassed by a pain in the right shoulder at the end, which occurred during contact with Victor Oladipo. If this will not have a priori posed a problem during the series against the Heat, it is more against Golden State that things will get tougher. Send bomblets behind the arc? Not a problem for Jay’ who will shoot at 45% (yes, yes) on the series. On the other hand, when the winger gets closer to the racquet, direct contact becomes much more complicated. As proof, his percentage of success in painting drops to a low 36%. Whether at mid-distance, in drive and even on free throws, the Celtics star will not have had the cleanliness that we know of him. His overall stats on the series (21/7/7) are also indicative of the pain with which JT had to deal. Attention, even wounded, the youngest of the Jay Brothers remains of the caliber All-Star, but playing below its capacity is always penalizing, especially for C’s in search of an eighteenth coronation. Fortunately, two months have passed since the end of these famous Finals, and Jayson Tatum took the opportunity to take a rest. Frankly deserved, when we know the ex-Blue Devil is the player who has played the most minutes in the NBA since the arrival of COVID.
“I always and above all have to take care of my body, work my legs in the weight room and make sure my core is in good shape. I try to change my diet, to eat better. The basketball part is the easiest to understand, I’ve been doing it for so long. I think it’s your body that keeps you where you are. »
– Jayson Tatum
Despite an extraordinary playoff campaign and some great feats of arms, Jayson Tatum is still young. Now 24, the winger is slowly beginning to understand the importance of body maintenance and recovery. A star player for the Celtics for several years, JT knows the process of staying on top for the long haul. On vacation for two months, JT took advantage of the break to rest his shoulder and strengthen his muscles. Today, everything seems to be back to normal and Jay’ seems ready to start a new season. Freshly reinforced by the arrival of Malcom Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari to bring experience off the bench, Boston must be ambitious. With some Jay Brothers at the top physically and a reigning Marcus Smart DPOY, why not start dreaming of new Finals? In any case, hope makes us live, as they say.
Jayson Tatum is fit again and that’s pretty good news for the Celtics. With their superstar in good health, the C’s will be able to attack the next exercise as they should. Objective for JT and his friends, to do as well as last season. Or not.
Sources texte : Celtics Wire / Bleacher Report / Statmuse