(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Not many NBA stars have been drafted into favorable situations right out of college.
More often than not, bad teams get the best prospects, and it takes time before they become any good.
That wasn’t the case with Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics.
He’s had excellent teams for most of his career, and with the Eastern Conference being far less competitive than the West, he’s often had an easier path to the Conference Finals.
Perhaps that’s why the narrative around him has been so different than with other young stars.
With that in mind, former NBA player Tim Legler came to his defense again, stating that he’s been way better than people give him credit for and that the narrative about him not showing up just isn’t true (via The Old Man & The Three).
.@LegsESPN talks the over-scrutiny of Jayson Tatum and the Celtics during the postseason.
Watch the full episode with @jj_redick: https://t.co/eNQFlBTjok pic.twitter.com/0Z1uIJ5Ozt
— TheOldMan&TheThree (@OldManAndThree) May 25, 2024
While he acknowledged that Tatum’s shooting splits have gone down in the playoffs, he’s still put up big numbers, and he’s had some big moments as well.
The issue with Tatum is that his numbers don’t usually match his tape, as he tends to dominate in the first three quarters or with his team up big, and then he barely takes a shot when things get complicated, so context also matters.
But on the same note, he wouldn’t be so scrutinized if he played on a different team; chances are he would be highly praised.
Perhaps the truth is somewhere in between, but it’s a fact that Tatum doesn’t get the credit he deserves and has earned.
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