The NBA drought is almost over, with the regular season just a couple of weeks away. During the offseason, the Boston Celtics made multiple moves that saw them reshape the team. One of the biggest stories from last season was the return of Jayson Tatum.
Following the offseason, Tatum revealed he feels more comfortable with his body since having Achilles surgery.
“When I came back, it was great from a mentality standpoint, just to get over that hurdle of playing, and even if I was at 80% myself, knowing that I could still be effective going into the offseason, knowing that I had the whole summer to get my body right, get the rhythm of playing basketball again,” Tatum said during a media appearance on Oct. 1.
"I feel so much more confident from a mental standpoint — and physically.”
Tatum talking about it just adds more reason as to why this next season could be the best of his career.
Jayson Tatum is primed for a career year with the Celtics
When Tatum returned last season, you could tell he was shaking off some rust, but he still left a positive impact on games through his rebounding and playmaking. In the 16 regular-season games he played, the Duke alum averaged a career-high 10 rebounds and 5.3 assists(second-highest of his career. His playoff averages were better, with 10.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists.
Tatum's playmaking in particular was the most encouraging aspect of his return last season. Every season has seen him improve in that department, and after spending most of last season on the sideline, it seems to have helped take his playmaking to another level. This Celtics team was built around Tatum's strengths and will be a big reason for how successful the team will be.
Boston has surrounded Tatum with great shooters like Paul George (39% from 3), Payton Pritchard (37% from 3), and Sam Hauser (39% from 3), among others. At the center spot, Boston still has Neemias Queta, who is a solid rebounder and lob threat, while also adding Mitchell Robinson in free agency, who excels in those roles.
In the past, Tatum has done well running pick-and-rolls with centers (look at how he played with Robert Williams and Luke Kornet), and it won't be any different this year.
Jayson Tatum should find his scoring groove again
The one area where you could tell that Tatum wasn't back to his old self was his scoring. While it improved in the playoffs, his points-per-game averages were not near his prior seasons. Having an extra offseason to rest and recover, the St. Louis native should be back to being a top scorer in the league.
Not only will the extra rest help him, but the team's construction will also be a part of his scoring. Being surrounded by shooting and lob threats will allow Tatum to have better scoring chances at the rim. While I don't expect teams to allow Tatum to just play one-on-one, the way this team is designed, he will be the clear leader on the floor and have the ball in his hands more often than not.
As great as media day and training camp can be, the real fun starts when the preseason is underway. For the Celtics, the first preseason game on the schedule is on Thursday, Oct. 8, when they travel to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Hopefully, the Celtics can be a good distraction from the current New England Patriots season.
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