The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-95 to start their Eastern Conference semi-final campaign [according to NBA.com]. Even still, there was cause for concern given Jayson Tatum‘s performance in the first game, the team’s lucky charm. Not surprise, Skip Bayless was quick to point this out and cast doubt on the 26-year-old’s abilities.
Throughout the entire game, Tatum clearly struggled to make his shots fall. The Missouri native shot just 7-19 from the field, according to StatMuse, and missed all five of his three-point attempts.
Skip Bayless questions Celtics team dynamics with Jayson Tatum struggling
The second player on the roster, Jaylen Brown, rose to the situation in the middle of Jayson’s difficulties. In Game 1, the 27-year-old’s offensive prowess gave the opposition headaches. According to StatMuse, the three-time All-Star scored an astounding 32 points in just 34 minutes, including a fantastic 4-6 from beyond the arc.
As a result, Bayless publicly questioned the dynamics within the Celtics club. He clarified the previous results by saying that Brown, rather than Tatum, had been the team’s lucky charm. The 72-year-old expressed his opinions on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying,
“Who ultimately is the Celtics’ Go-to Guy? Tonight it was Jaylen. I lean Jaylen. But most ppl think it’s Jayson … who was 7-19 tonight and 0-5 from 3”.
Who ultimately is the Celtics' Go-to Guy? Tonight it was Jaylen. I lean Jaylen. But most ppl think it's Jayson … who was 7-19 tonight and 0-5 from 3.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 8, 2024
Even though it sounds harsh, Bayless’ statement captures a crucial aspect of the situation. A strikingly similar plotline played out during the 2022 NBA Finals, where Brown defeated Tatum in the series.
