Celtics Face Questions as Jayson Tatum Return 'Disrupts Flow'

The Boston Celtics are still searching for rhythm following the return of Jayson Tatum, and not everyone is convinced things are clicking just yet.

“For Boston, it’s really just finding out the rhythm of the team now, of the other guys, when you insert a guy like JT,” Tracy McGrady said speaking on NBC. “I don’t want to say it seems out of whack, but their shooting has gone down since he’s been here.”

The adjustment period has been noticeable. While Boston has still managed to grind out results, performances haven’t looked as fluid, particularly offensively.

“So, it’s really like, guys what are we doing here?” he added. “Are we running the same stuff that we ran before? Are we still on the same page, or are we divided because we are not playing our same game? I’m sure there’s a lot mentally that these guys are going through because of the insertion of JT and them not playing the same type of basketball that they played individually, not shooting the ball well.”

Recent outings have only added to those concerns. Close games against undermanned opponents and inconsistent shooting nights have highlighted some of the growing pains after Tatum returned.

“They struggled with Memphis the other night and they struggled [Sunday] against a team that didn’t have their best players,” McGrady said. “So, I’m sure there’s some questions that these guys have got to answer.”

Other former players echoed similar themes. Vince Carter pointed to execution.

“You’re going to have to make shots, and they’re going to have to figure out when we’re not hitting shots,” Carter said. “And I know [Joe] Mazzulla has said he wants 40 to 60 [3-point] shots, they only got 33 up [Sunday], where do you go from there?”

“That’s the question because sometimes in the playoffs that 3-point shot is not going to be there. Who is going to be that next guy, or how are we going to play from then? Who do we feature, or where do we put our two stars to succeed.”