Down two points with the ball in overtime, the Boston Celtics want the ball in Jayson Tatum’s hands.
They put the ball in his hands at the end of regulation in Game 1 on Tuesday night and he took a step-back 3-point jumper from about 30 feet. It was hero ball without immediately negative consequences. Make it and you wear the cape. Miss it and you can go finish the job in overtime. He could have tried a similar shot for pure redemption. Prove he can make that shot. Prove it’s a winning play. But the consequences of missing that shot are immediate: a loss and a 0-1 series deficit to the Miami Heat.
Tatum didn’t go for the same shot. He went for the opposite. Instead of shooting while moving away from the hoop, he decided to attack the rim. Miami switched the play, as most defenses will do in that situation. Brad Wanamaker brought Jimmy Butler into the play, swapping defenders with Tatum. Derrick Jones Jr would now help off Wanamaker, and Butler would…
