It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for Jayson Tatum since he returned from his Achilles injury in early March, but his last two games have been especially rough. He's gone just 9-for-31 from the field and 4-for-16 from three, dragging his season averages down to 38.8 percent and 29.3 percent, respectively.
Tatum's shot hasn't been right since he came back, but some rust was to be expected. He's still doing other things to help the Boston Celtics win games, averaging 19.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 29.8 minutes per game.
That's helped the Celtics win six of his first eight games back despite his shooting woes, so clearly he hasn't been too much of a detriment.
On Monday's episode of "First Things First," Chris Broussard defended Tatum from all the criticism he's been getting lately.
“This was coming no matter what…This is something you work your way through and he won’t be himself probably until next season...I don’t think he’s playing poorly at all.”@Chris_Broussard thinks Jayson Tatum and the Celtics will be better by the playoffs: pic.twitter.com/IKrz4I0cBI
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) March 23, 2026
"I think by the time the playoffs come, he'll be playing better than he is now and the Celtics will be better for it, so this is just something you work through," Broussard said. "I think he's playing very well under the circumstances. 19 points a game...so I don't think he's playing poorly at all."
Other analysts agree with Broussard that Tatum will likely look more like himself by the postseason, which begins in several weeks. His struggles have been part of the process, but they'll be worth it for Boston if he can be a key contributor during the playoffs.
It's just going to take time, and fortunately for Tatum, he still has a few weeks to keep ramping back up before the postseason starts.
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