Charles Barkley, Jay Williams Among Former NBA Players Critical Of Jayson Tatum After Game 1 Loss

Jay Williams, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley believe the Boston Celtics need Jayson Tatum to close games out

Inconsistency is the story for Boston Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum these playoffs.

On Wednesday, he led the Celtics with 30 points in their Game 1 loss to the Miami Heat but he did most of his scoring in the first half. The second half? An entirely different story. 

Tatum took plenty criticism for taking only four shots compared to 13 in the first half.

.@RealJayWilliams reacts to Jayson Tatum's performance in Game 1:

"There is no way in hell he can have four shots in the second half. ... That is alarming. That is disturbing, 'cause this team goes the way Jayson Tatum goes." pic.twitter.com/sJ5ugwj7da

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 18, 2023

“I love Jayson Tatum,” ESPN's Get Up host Jay Williams said. “Obviously there’s a Duke brotherhood there. There’s no way in hell he can have four shots in the second half. He is coming off a 51-point Game 7 game at home. The most points scored in NBA history in a Game 7. He had 18 points in the first quarter and you’re going to tell me he only gets four shots in the second half. That is alarming. That is disturbing because this team goes the way Jayson Tatum goes.”

TNT analyst Charles Barkley also chimed in on the Inside The NBA postgame show. 

"He's got to demand the ball," Barkley said. 

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Cory Nelson is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson. You can also check out his personal blog HERE.