The Bucks have a Jayson Tatum problem, and it could haunt them in the playoffs

Jayson Tatum, a minimum of statistically, had one in all his worst video games this season in the Celtics’ 119-116 win over the Bucks on Wednesday, and but all the writing on the wall learn the similar factor: Tatum goes to haunt Milwaukee in the event that they finally end up assembly in the playoffs. 

This was once, nonetheless is, and will stay the drawback with buying and selling for Damian Lillard. Sure, the offense were given juiced, however the protection took a primary hit with the lack of Jrue Holiday, who was once really the simplest defender Milwaukee had in a position to coping with a wing scorer the likes of Tatum. 

If the Bucks see the Heat, they may not have a solution for Jimmy Butler. If the see the Sixers, they may not have a solution for Tyrese Maxey. Holiday was once their one perimeter defender in a position to impacting celebrity scorers, and with out him, Khris Middleton turns into the man assigned to Tatum. And that simply is not going to paintings. 

Coming off knee surgical procedure this summer season and at 32 years outdated, Middleton, as was once it appears that evidently glaring on Wednesday, simply is not rapid sufficient or robust sufficient to stay Tatum from attending to the rim for both a layup or a foul. 

If Tatum does not take Middleton one on one, all he has to do is put him in the display motion. Middleton is not bodily or rapid sufficient at this level to adequately affect Tatum by means of chasing over the best (Holiday would possibly nonetheless be the highest ball display navigator in the international, by means of the means) with Brook Lopez shedding, but additionally going below the display is unnecessary with Lopez in a drop. It’s a scrambling state of affairs for a defender out of his intensity, and this occurs:

So what is the selection? For Middleton to modify out on the giant guy and depart Lopez one on one in opposition to Tatum? They attempted that, too:

OK, so perhaps the Bucks can ditch the Middleton/Tatum matchup altogether and put any person else on him. Perhaps Malik Beasley or MarJon Beauchamp?

There is simply no solution for Tatum in this Bucks roster. Lillard clearly cannot protect him. Forget about Pat Connaughton. Andre Jackson Jr. can protect at 6-foot-6, however you are going to pass into a attainable Eastern Conference finals with a rookie who is lately enjoying below 10 mins in keeping with recreation matched up on Tatum? 

Jae Crowder, if he is wholesome (he is 33 years outdated and out for the subsequent two months a minimum of with an stomach tear), could get the Tatum name. I would not precisely name that a excellent possibility. 

In the finish, if kinds makes fights, then matchups make the NBA playoffs. And with Holiday long past — to mention not anything of the truth that he is if truth be told on the Celtics now — Tatum is simply a nightmare matchup for the Bucks. Sure, he had an off evening on Wednesday. Hoping for that to occur more than one occasions in a seven-game sequence is not a recreation plan. It’s a dying want. Besides that, even with a mediocre Tatum, the Celtics had been nonetheless routing the Bucks for many of the recreation. 

You have to suppose, or a minimum of hope, that Lillard will shoot higher than he has to begin this season if/when the Bucks and Celtics meet in the playoffs, however regardless, the Tatum drawback is not going away. And in case you are pondering the Bucks could make some more or less business for a true wing defender, I ask you, with what? What they did not business for Holiday they only traded for Lillard. Alex Caruso is not strolling via that door. 

So that is what the Bucks have in phrases of Tatum defensive choices, and suffice it to mention, it does not glance excellent.