Jayson Tatum has noticed a pattern from his time in the NBA. He has gone through struggles a number of times, stretches during which he hasn’t lived up to his personal standards. “And then I figure it out,” Tatum said Friday. “And then I go on these runs.”
The buckets just haven’t come as easily this season. Tatum knows it. He is trying to work through it. He said he has dug into the film, attempting to figure out what he needs to fix. He hasn’t changed much else about his daily routine, saying he always puts up extra shots and always stays in the gym later than anyone else. He said he hasn’t gotten angry about his inconsistency, either. “I don’t get mad,” Tatum said. “It’s frustrating, but I think it’s part of it.”
Tatum is taking it all in stride. Even the criticism. The Celtics, coming off a disappointing .500 season, have opened this season at 12-11. Tatum knows how it is for players of his stature. When things go right, the praise is thick. When things go wrong, the blame will point straight at him. “I think that’s just the world we live in,” Tatum said. “They’re always just going to talk about what you’re doing. Never about what you’ve accomplished and stuff like that. It’s just what you’re doing right now. And I think that’s what kind of drives some players. It’s like, don’t be complacent. I’m always focused on what I can do next. And I’m sure the narrative will change when we get to the championship one day. So we’ll see.” – via Jay King @ The Athletic
