Boston Celtics: Tatum’s sudden emergence should frighten the Bucks

The recent rise to stardom from Jayson Tatum identifies the Boston Celtics as the biggest threat to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference heading into the playoffs.

The Milwaukee Bucks are cruising through the regular season and can sense that the NBA Finals are very close in distance. They can smell the Larry O’Brien trophy from Milwaukee, but they know they have to get past the Eastern Conference first, something they failed to accomplish last season.

The Boston Celtics may have a chance to spoil a historic season from the Bucks with the sudden emergence of Jayson Tatum and his developing superstar abilities.

After earning his first NBA All-Star appearance, Tatum is averaging close to 30 points per game and rapidly climbing up the MVP ladder since February. In only his third NBA season at 22-years-old, he is currently averaging 23.5 points per game overall while shooting just under 45.0 percent from the floor.

He was recently named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February, the first time he has ever won such an award.

The work ethic, determination, and time Tatum has put into his game are finally paying off. He is putting the entire star package together and it’s beautiful to watch.

Could Tatum’s rise as a two-way wing with superstar flashes help knock off the Bucks in the playoffs? It may not be enough, but I’ll tell you how it’s certainly possible.

Milwaukee has few weaknesses, but the largest hole in head coach Mike Budenholzer’s system is giving up too many 3-point attempts. Although the Bucks have done an outstanding job defensively this season, all of their ten losses have a similarity; Milwaukee’s combined losses have resulted in an average of allowing 16 made threes to their opponents.

Boston was one of those teams that beat the Bucks earlier in the season by pouring in 17 threes of their own with Jayson Tatum connecting on four of them. The offensive production that Tatum adds to the Celtics, especially from 3-point range, could play a major factor in exploiting Milwaukee’s biggest weakness.

Tatum’s improved development as a 3-point threat has skyrocketed throughout this season. He’s currently shooting 39.9 percent on threes and converting 2.8 per game. Last season, he only made 1.5 per game.

Not only has Tatum improved his percentages and numbers from beyond the arc. He has expanded his arsenal as a 3-point scorer. Tatum can score from the perimeter in many different ways.

For example, his improved ability to sidestep away from defenders to create more spacing for a shot has become elite.

With Tatum’s developing superstar abilities to sidestep, stepback, or pull-up on threes, it could cause concern for the Bucks if he’s connecting on those attempts in a potential playoff matchup. He’s now certainly capable of knocking down multiple threes in different ways, and the Bucks already give up too many 3-point attempts each game.

Milwaukee has outstanding perimeter defenders who make it difficult to connect on the many 3-point attempts that they allow like Eric Bledsoe, Wesley Matthews, Khris Middleton, George Hill, and Donte DiVincenzo. However, it can be very difficult to guard players with the ability to efficiently score from beyond the arc any way they want like Tatum has become.

In addition to Tatum’s emergence as an elite 3-point scorer, he has also become more intelligent when attacking the paint. Tatum has developed better patience coming off screens, assessing different situations, breaking down defenses, craftiness and finishing around the rim, and hesitation moves as a ball-handler and scorer off the dribble.

The Bucks cause mayhem for opponents to score in the paint since they have length, height, and elite shot-blocking ability in the interior. Giannis Antetokounmpo could be the current front runner for both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors, and he’s accompanied by the rim-protecting Lopez brothers, Brook and Robin, in the paint.

Nevertheless, Tatum’s improved intelligence when penetrating toward the rim gives him a better chance of breaking down the dominant interior defense of the Bucks.

Tatum has increased his usage of utilizing his body and length to his advantage as he penetrates the paint after coming off screens. He patiently uses his body to bait defenders in fouling him from behind, then uses his long strides toward the basket to get an efficient shot.

The craftiness and finishing around the rim from Tatum has much improved compared to his first two NBA seasons since he would normally rush himself or force shots in the past.

Another evolution that has taken place in Tatum’s game is his abilities as a wing defender. He’s always had the potential of becoming an elite defender with his length and versatility and it’s finally beginning to show.

Tatum can now be trusted to guard all five positions on the floor. He has proved to be capable of defending superstars from forwards like Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo to guards like James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Celtics’ head coach Brad Stevens trusts Tatum as an all-around defender and allows him to switch on defense almost every time, which is a major benefit to a team’s defensive schemes.

Having a dependable wing defender who can switch onto anyone and consistently cause problems is very valuable, especially if you’re playing a team that plays at a fast pace with great spacing like the Milwaukee Bucks.

His improvements as a scorer, defender, and high IQ player have drastically supported the Celtics throughout the second half of the season, and they may have the best chance of exposing the weaknesses and overcoming the strengths of the dominant Bucks in the playoffs.

Of course, Tatum can’t do it all by himself, but the Celtics have other valuable pieces around him that can also contribute to the blueprint of beating Milwaukee. All-Star Kemba Walker, Gordon Hayward, and Jaylen Brown are all shooting over 38.0 percent on threes this season, and they have other strong wing defenders of their own such as Brown and Marcus Smart to go along with Tatum’s improved two-way skills.

Boston has a developing superstar, two All-Stars that threaten Mike Budenholzer’s system, the capability of raining threes, and the pieces to defend on the perimeter that gives them the best chance of beating Milwaukee the way they’ve been beaten throughout the season.

If there’s any team in the Eastern Conference Milwaukee should be worried about, it’s the Boston Celtics due to the sudden emergence of Jayson Tatum’s star abilities that help exploit their weaknesses and infiltrate their strengths.