Tatum needs to toe line
Udoka hoping for more free throw attempts going forward in series
The Celtics went into Game 5 looking for a better Jayson Tatum, as did the Celtics star himself.
And after attempting a series-low five free throws in Game 4, his coach was looking for far better efficiency in the paint.
“I’d say play more physical on his drives,” said Ime Udoka. “This team is really loading up, clogging the paint at times. Whether he’s going to the basket or making the right read, which is a kick-out, we’re asking him to be decisive, aggressive and physical with it.
“A lot of times he’s getting kind of floating, going off one leg when he can plant and go off two, finish a little bit stronger. I think that will draw some contact,” he said. “When I mentioned hunting fouls, I’m thinking it’s taking him off his shots a little bit. We’re just telling him to be decisive. He’s done it all year, seen every coverage. For the most part has kind of picked those apart. Want more of the same in the Finals obviously.”
Overall, though, Udoka is happy with Tatum’s shot opportunities.
“I think he’s getting some solid ones. He’s shooting okay from three,” said the Celtics coach. “I think it’s the finishes around the basket that he’s kind of fallen off numbers-wise as far as that. Getting there and making the right reads is the main thing. I’ve mentioned the two wins. He’s picking the gym apart, has 13 and nine assists in those, five in the losses. As aggressive as we want him to be, he knows what’s going to be there waiting for him if he over-penetrates. Sometimes it’s taking that one or two less dribbles,
finding guys like he’s done, keeping himself out of bad situations. We do want him to get downhill and get aggressive and use his size. More so the strong finishes and less looking for fouls that have taken off some of his shots and equated to some of his misses.”
Guarding Steph
As if they didn’t already know, the Celtics have been reminded in this series of just how unique a cover Steph Curry is.
“Definitely. We all know what he can do outside of 20 feet, 30 to 35, 40 feet,” said Marcus Smart. “The dude is special in that regard. The way that he’s able to affect the game by being able to run around and play off the ball and get himself open, it’s just tough on a defender because you can’t take a break.
“The instant you think that he’s not doing anything, the play is over for him, and that’s when you get beaten,” he said. “That’s when you get burnt. That’s when this mentality comes in and you’ve got to stay ready, you can’t give up, you’ve got to keep going. For him, he can affect the game at all levels, passing, playmaking, shooting the ball, scoring the ball.
“He’s got the whole package, and you have to be able to guard every last thing he has, and not many players can do that. Not a lot of people, especially on that defensive end, likes to sit down and play defense. It’s not fun. It’s not glamorous at all. You’re not going to get any or much of the credit. None of that. But you have to be willing to take that challenge and just go do it when you’re guarding him.”
Jumpstarting the offense
Udoka can’t complain about the job his defense has done, including against Curry. The main issue heading into Game 5 was of a purely offensive nature.
“We’ve been battle tested in two seven-game series in Milwaukee and Miami. So for us, looking at the positives and things we could have done better. Not playing our best offense overall,” he said. “I think the narrative gets shifted to Curry and what he’s doing. But in our wins and losses, they are scoring the same points. A lot has been reliant on our offense in the fourth quarter.
“But even throughout the game, we had several opportunities, being up five, six, seven, and poor offense or turnovers let them back in the game. The difference in the game that we stretched the lead was we took advantage of those opportunities. We were solid. And against this team, anytime you run some poor offense, turn the ball over, live ball turnovers, let them get out, we know how quickly they can get back in the game. That was the case in Game 4 when we had our chances.”