Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket while Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Jayson Tatum didn’t have any groundbreaking ideas or magic bullets to pull the Celtics out of their current doldrums.
After Friday’s 111-90 loss to the Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix that dropped Boston below .500 at 13-14, the Celtics’ stoic star said the team’s ensemble problem needs ensemble answers.
“I think everybody just needs to be a little bit better. Obviously, we have to work together, but everybody needs to look in the mirror and do a little bit more and just be a little bit better. That would benefit everybody,” said Tatum, who had a game-high 24 points to go with seven rebounds. “We have to be mature enough as a group to say whatever happened, happened, let’s move on.
“It’s tough losing three in a row, especially in the fashion that we did. But we can’t change it,” he continued. “We have to get back home. We’ll be home for a little while. We have to get back in front of our fans and take it one game at a time.”
Tatum was asked if he thought enough of the season was in the books to fairly judge whether changes were warranted. He said while injuries have impacted the Celtics, they don’t excuse all of the team’s woes.
“Obviously, the coaches have to do what they think is best,” he said. “It goes both ways, (27 games) is enough of a sample size, but I’m certain there’s only been a handful of games where our whole team has been together. But even without that, there’s some games we wish we could have back.”
Rob Williams said the responsibility was on the players.
“It’s completely on us as players to take ownership and put a stop to something you don’t like,” Williams said. “I’ve seen the fight in these guys. … It’s just something we have to get past and find a way to get over that hump and play solid with each other and stay together. Everybody’s got to take ownership. If you’ve got to make it about your pride, make it about your pride. Whatever gets you fired up.”
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