Jayson Tatum says he’s not just focused on scoring, but also on controlling the game in other ways.

According to Jayson Tatum, his main goals are to dominate the game by grabbing rebounds, passes, and defense.

Jayson Tatum’s scoring isn’t the only reason the Boston Celtics are ahead 2-0 against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Although Tatum hasn’t been scoring as frequently or as effectively as one might anticipate, the star forward said after Game 2 that he is instead concentrating on controlling the game in other ways.

“I wish I could get back some of the open threes and layups that I missed. The law of averages predicts their return. However, I’m currently concentrating on finding new methods to win the game. My passing, my defense, and my rebounding. That’s my main area of attention.”

Tatum finished Game 2 with just 18 points on 6-22 shooting from the field, but he did pull down 9 rebounds, dish out 12 assists, and steal one. In this series, the Mavericks’ defense has put a lot of pressure on the 26-year-old, but he has thrived as a facilitator in response.

In this series, Tatum has also been a huge help to the Celtics on the glass and has played a decent level of defense. Although the five-time All-Star’s scoring difficulties are certainly cause for concern, it is important to recognize the influence he has had on the Celtics in the Finals.

Tatum currently averages 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game for the series.

Players of Tatum’s caliber have been known to have tunnel vision and desire to score a lot of points on big stages in the past, but the Celtics star has demonstrated a willingness to make the right move when it comes to the game. Why is it the case? Well, he talked extensively about it after the game.

Tatum remarked, “I’ve been here before, and we didn’t win.” We’re really getting close to achieving our goals, it seems. Why would I allow that to be impeded by my ego or my desire to win every point?

I would definitely want a star to think like that. To win on any particular night, you perform the tasks that your team requires you to perform.

Irrespective of the consequences to your score, accept that as a facilitator. For his teammates to succeed, LeBron James has accomplished just that during his illustrious career.

Having said that, Tatum still needs to improve when he tries to score. In the series, he is only shooting 31.5% from the field, which is unacceptable.

I believe that at some point during these Finals, he will be called upon by the Celtics to play like the outstanding scorer that he is, and he will have to deliver in that circumstance.

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