Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Admits Struggles Amid 0-2 Knicks Playoff Deficit

Jayson Tatum has acknowledged his shooting struggles in the Boston Celtics' Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks, taking full responsibility and promising improvement for Game 3. Despite a strong regular season and prior success against the Knicks, Tatum has shot just 28.6% overall and 25% from three-point range in the series, contributing to an 0-2 deficit for the Celtics. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has expressed confidence in Tatum's ability to rebound, while emphasizing that the entire team, including himself, must improve execution and maintain confidence. The Celtics have also faced collective offensive woes, including cold shooting stretches and blown 20-point leads in both games, with key defensive plays by Knicks wings Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby limiting Tatum's effectiveness. The team held a film session focusing on maintaining aggressive play despite struggles, as they prepare to avoid a historically difficult 3-0 series deficit. Overall, both Tatum and the Celtics are under pressure to elevate their performance to turn the series around.