The Boston Celtics suffered a couple of tough losses a few days ago, falling to both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets.
But on Saturday night, they had a definitive win over the Phoenix Suns.
During that game, Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Although he scored a lot, Tatum also showed off his skills as a facilitator and playmaker.
Writing for The Athletic, Jared Weiss spoke about how Tatum can still contribute to his team even if his shot isn’t falling.
“While the Celtics’ crunchtime offense looks shaky right now, this was a reminder that Tatum is at his best when he’s a playmaker first,” Weiss wrote.
How do the Celtics win games when their best player doesn’t have it?
How does Jayson Tatum stay relevant in plays where he isn’t clanking one off the rim?@JaredWeissNBA on how Tatum helped the Celtics’ offense get past the Suns, even if he struggled ⤵️https://t.co/OG9JgKa7Ik pic.twitter.com/6BThxis9Ac
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) March 11, 2024
Tatum has had some trouble on the court over the last several games.
He has missed vital shots, given up painful turnovers, and just hasn’t look like his regular self.
His numbers were a lot stronger during the game against the Suns, although the Celtics star still wasn’t completely satisfied with his work.
But even though he has faced some difficulties, Tatum is still the lynchpin for the team and is able to bring everyone together though his playmaking abilities.
It is vital that he focuses a lot more on that in the weeks ahead.
The Celtics are lucky because they have a great roster, perhaps the deepest in the entire NBA.
Tatum can rely on them all, especially on nights when he isn’t shooting well.
Being the best player on a team isn’t always about scoring the most.
Sometimes, it’s about leading the rest of the players in other ways, and Tatum is capable of that.
NEXT:
Jayson Tatum Doesn’t Hold Back His Thoughts On Performance Against Suns