Jayson Tatum’s Offseason Tweak Pays Off as Boston Celtics Star Leads Team into Second Round
The Boston Celtics are looking strong as they head into the second round of the playoffs, with Jayson Tatum leading the charge. The Celtics superstar made a slight tweak to his jump shot in the offseason, and it has made a world of difference. According to a report by Talksport.com, Tatum’s jumper has looked much smoother this season.
The tweak was first noticed when the Celtics played the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi for two preseason games in early October. Talksport.com reported that NBA writers Matt Moore and Keith Smith took note of the change in Tatum’s jumper, with Moore posting on X that "Tatum’s jumper looking cleaner is a little tiny thing from preseason that I think you can take note of." Smith also commented, saying "Jayson Tatum’s form on his jumper is way cleaner. Hitch is gone, release is quicker and at the top of his rise."
Tatum finished the regular season averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6 assists on 45.2% from the field. He is well on his way to his fourth All-NBA team and leads the Celtics into the second round as heavy favorites against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks. The Celtics are looking to repeat as NBA champions, something that hasn’t been done since the Golden State Warriors in 2017-2018.
At media day, Tatum revealed what he worked on in the offseason, saying "Been working with my trainer Drew (Hanlen) a lot, recently in the last few weeks. Pick-up points, hand placement, getting lower, keeping my shoulders forward and things like that." He also mentioned that he didn’t try to fix his shooting issues during the playoffs last year, as the team was winning and it wasn’t the right time to make changes.
The good news for Boston Celtics fans is that it looks like Tatum has more than fixed whatever was plaguing him last year, and is still looking for ways to improve. In an interview with NBC Sports Boston, Tatum said "Overall, I can still get better. You haven’t seen the best version of Jayson Tatum. And you shouldn’t…I should continue to keep getting better." This is a scary thought for the rest of the league, as Tatum continues to develop and improve his game.
As Talksport.com reported, Tatum’s improvement is a significant factor in the Celtics’ chances of repeating as champions. The Celtics are looking strong, and with Tatum leading the charge, they will be a team to watch in the second round.
The Celtics’ chances of success will depend on Tatum’s continued improvement and the team’s overall performance. As Talksport.com noted, Tatum’s tweak to his jump shot has made a significant difference, and his continued development will be key to the Celtics’ success. With Tatum and the Celtics looking strong, the second round of the playoffs is shaping up to be an exciting and closely contested series.
