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Former NBA Coach of the Year defends Jayson Tatum's game
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Former NBA Coach of the Year defends Jayson Tatum's team-first style of play

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has received significant criticism this season. He has changed his style of play. Rather than serving as the focal point of the Celtics offense, Tatum is operating as a creator, allowing his teammates to shine. Yet, for some reason, his complete style of play has drawn criticism. His ability to reach an MVP level has been questioned. Those questions have only gotten louder as the postseason has progressed. 

Former NBA Coach of the Year Dwane Casey recently appeared on Sirius XM NBA Radio and defended Tatum's performances this season.

"From a coaching standpoint, he's one of my favorite players. He plays the game the right way. He's been through the wars. He's been battle-tested. The failures of the past are paying off for him. He's not rattled. He's playing under control," Casey said. "He doesn't care who gets the credit or who scores...He's playing to win. And he's affecting winning...From a winning standpoint, he affects winning the right way and he's one of the top superstars in our league." 

Tatum's issue is that his game isn't flashy. It doesn't draw the same gasps of disbelief as stars like Anthony Edwards. Instead, Tatum plays textbook basketball. Everything he does is within the flow of the game. His impact is more nuanced than that of explosive scorers, who eat up a significant portion of a team's touches. 

In the 15 postseason games Tatum has played this spring, he's averaging 25.3 points, 5.9 assists and 10.4 rebounds. He's shooting 43.8% from the field and 29.9% from three-point range. That's solid production from a player who is surrounded by five other guys who could also be All-Stars. Casey's point is important. It doesn't matter what the media says. Nor should the star sheet have much impact on our assessment. 

Tatum is playing elite basketball. He's playing winning basketball. And if Boston can win three more games, he would be playing championship-level basketball. That's what the Celtics needed from him. And he's delivered in a big way. 

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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