In addition to noting all the things the Celtics need to fix, when he studies video of Friday’s Game 4 dud against Dallas, Jayson Tatum should focus on Luka Doncic.
Doncic spent the 45 hours between the end of Game 3 and Friday’s tip-off getting — as Jason Kidd called it — barbecued. For his defense, for his whining to officials, for his leadership. Doncic went from being an All-World player to the face of Dallas’ failure.
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Instead of shrinking, Doncic came back aggressive in Game 4. Despite leg and chest injuries, he had 29 points, five assists and five rebounds as the Mavericks crushed the Celtics 122-84 in Game 4. When his 3-pointer wasn’t falling (0-for-8), Doncic kept attacking the paint. He might have scored 40 if the game had been closer.
In addition to preparing to face Doncic again, Tatum should take inspiration from him. He and the Celtics haven’t gotten the same volume of barbecuing that Doncic, did because sports radio listenership drops off and ESPN doesn’t have argument shows on weekends. But Tatum and the Celtics’ mettle is being questioned. Even Kidd said the Celtics let go of the rope.
Tatum has had a lousy series offensively. If this once-secure series gets scary for Boston, the fingers are going to point his way. It’s not the first time he’s been quiet in a big spot.
The perception of Tatum as someone who shrinks in the playoffs isn’t entirely fair. His 2024 postseason numbers are good at 24.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. But they’ve dwindled in the finals (20.0 ppg. 7.8 rpg. 6.3 apg.). The same thing happened in 2022 against Golden State.
Of the three games against the Mavericks that Tatum has actually played in the fourth quarter, (the Celtics pulled their starters while being blown out in the third in Game 4), he has a combined 12 points and shot 3-for-17. When the Celtics have needed points late, somebody else has been asked to score them.
Tatum can erase all of that with one big game on Monday in Game 5 at TD Garden. One 35-point game with a strong fourth in a victory would change his legacy forever.
Friday’s loss wasn’t Tatum’s fault. His 15 points led the Celtics on a night when everybody was bad. But Tatum is the face of it. Guys with supermax deals and signature shoes get more of the blame.
Tatum presented a mature response afterward.
“You have to move on from it, win or a loss. We’re obviously going to watch film and see a lot of things that we need to clean up and do better. But you can’t worry about it too much because we have another game on Monday,” he said. “Not making any excuses. We’ve got to be a lot better, and I believe that we will.”
Tatum doesn’t stew or seeth. Not outwardly at least. He’s not wired that way. Most of the time that’s probably a good thing.
But his idol, Kobe Bryant never had to believe his team would be better. He decided it. He demanded it. He embodied it and dragged everyone else along. Tatum is as talented as anyone. A chip on his shoulder could put him over the top.
That’s what Luka Doncic had in Game 4. Tatum needs to find his.
Follow MassLive sports columnist Matt Vautour on Twitter at @MattVautour424.
