Updated 10:30 AM EST, June 15, [year]
In the NBA Finals, Jayson Tatum is showing two different sides of his game. On one hand, he is shooting poorly, making only 12 out of 38 field goal attempts, a 31.6% shooting percentage. This is the worst percentage for any starter in the Celtics-Mavericks series so far. On the other hand, he leads the series in total rebounds and assists, and is even favored to win the Finals MVP according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Despite his struggles with shooting efficiency, Tatum is finding other ways to impact the game and help his team. The Celtics currently hold a 2-0 lead in the Finals and are halfway to their 18th championship title. Tatum acknowledged the need to improve his shooting but remains focused on contributing in other areas of the game.
Analyzing Tatum’s stats in the series, and even comparing them to the 2022 Finals, may not provide a clear picture due to the small sample size of eight games. However, if he maintains averages of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 8.5 assists for the rest of the series, he would join LeBron James as the only player to achieve such numbers in a Finals series.
While the Mavericks have done a commendable job defending Tatum in the first two games, his impact in other facets of the game has helped the Celtics secure victories. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd praised Tatum as one of the best players in the world and emphasized the challenge of containing his versatile offensive skill set.
Despite his recent shooting struggles, Tatum has a history of bouncing back with strong performances. Mavericks fans remember his 39-point game against them earlier in the season after a similar shooting slump. It is only a matter of time before Tatum finds his rhythm and heats up offensively again.