Celtics look to free up Tatum in Game 4
BOSTON — Jayson Tatum, whose 0-for-4 second half performance on Saturday night ranks among the worst playoff performances in his young career, clearly needs to come forth with much more when Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals begins on Monday night against Miami. Tatum finished with 10 points and six turnovers as Miami took a 2-1 series lead.
“He knows he didn’t play his best,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said following Sunday’s practice. “We know we can play a lot better as a team. And so, one thing he’s done is bounce back very well, and we’re looking forward to (that) with him.
“Competitive guy, obviously. One of the best in the league. He understands an opportunity was lost. Guys aren’t going to play great every night, but you can still make the right reads. And he’s still out there defending. I don’t have to say much to him. We’re all [angry] about it, him probably more than anybody. Look forward to a good response from him.”
But to get there, Tatum has to free himself up from the likes of P.J. Tucker, who was particularly successful against the Celtics star in Miami’s 109-103 Game 3 victory Saturday night. On one occasion in the second quarter, when losing control of the ball while trying to drive through a crowd, Tatum found himself on the floor fighting with four Heat defenders while trying to get the loose ball. Every Celtic on the floor, not just Tatum, has to work at freeing up this premier offensive threat.
“It’s a little bit of both, taking him off the ball some,” Udoka said of solutions. “Off-ball actions always have worked well for him, whether he’s a screener or some flares and things like that because they are loading up on him every time he has the ball, but also understanding that they’re guarding him like this.
“He’s had huge playoff series so far. Teams are going to come after him, so for him, it’s looking to get guys involved early. As he makes those passes and makes