Boston’s season has not been easy, and there could be a new drama on the way for the franchise. Jayson Yatum and coach Ime Udoka thus had a rather strange exchange, during the match against the Sixers… Could this be the beginnings of a clash between the two men ?
2021-22 has not started off on a good footing for Jayson Tatum, whose recovery was quite problematic until then. However, the No. 0 Celtics was able to get back on track with the reception of Philadelphia, signing 26 points (9/20) and 16 rebounds, a personal best. Enough to allow his family to win with a very short header, following a game to say the least closed offensively (88-87).
Nevertheless, if the performance remains to be commended, he also stood out with a rather questionable conversation with his coach, Ime Udoka. Asked by ESPN after the meeting, the latter thus revealed that he had suggested to his protégé to finally show himself skilful, during the first half. However, JT obviously did not like it at all and in fact responded scathingly:
I told him it would be nice to take a shot. He looked at me and said, “I have nine rebounds”.
Tensions between Jayson Tatum et Ime Udoka?
If this is so much of a problem, it’s because the personal situation in Boston has been far from perfect lately, especially in the case of Tatum. After Marcus Smart went after him and Jaylen Brown, it was already Idoka who challenged him for his chronic awkwardness, and his excessive volume of shoots. The player responded in a comprehensive manner, but we imagine that he must be fed up with so much criticism.
On the Boston Garden side, however, no one wants to sound the alarm bells on this matter. The tactician himself is playing down the facts, just as he sees no problem with his men defeating the Sixers with such difficulty on offense. In his eyes, a success remains a success whatever happens and however you get it:
I’m not really going to apologize for a bad win. It happens.
We still hope for him that his C’s level of play will quickly improve, the quarter of the season having been crossed. 8ᵉ in the East with 12 wins for 10 losses, the Greens and Whites are far from having made a perfect start. The Top 6 remains within reach, but we now have to string together good results. For this, it would be better for their leader on the ground to be in good shape, and if possible in good shape.
Already not spared since the start of the year, Jayson Tatum is doing nothing to calm things down. At least, his performance against Philly remains a clear improvement over the last few weeks, a sign that he may already be raising the bar .
