The Herd with Colin Cowherd Hoops Tonight - 5 NBA Reactions: Tatum makes Celtics CONTENDERS, Lakers need more Reaves less LeBron, Rockets ISSUES
Mar 9, 2026
Fast reactions to a wild NBA weekend with five bold takeaways. Jayson Tatum’s return instantly makes Boston more dangerous and versatile. Lakers should lean on Austin Reaves as the clear second creator rather than rely on LeBron. Houston’s defense is hampered by Alperen Şengün and systemic rotation issues. Detroit’s progress has stalled and margins matter for their recovery.
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Tatum Instantly Fixes Celtics Matchup Problems
- Jayson Tatum's return immediately improves Boston's matchup versatility and defensive rebounding.
- In his first two games the Celtics grabbed 81.2% of opponent misses with Tatum on the floor, changing the physical profile of their lineups.
Tatum Brings Missing Playmaking To Celtics
- Tatum adds natural playmaking that Boston lacked, improving reads and pocket passing.
- Examples: pocket passes to Kristaps Kaba at the start of the Mavericks game and a bounce pass to Derrick White leading to an easy dunk versus Cleveland.
Celtics Matchup Edge Over Cavaliers Persists
- Boston's perimeter defenders make Cleveland's ball handlers uncomfortable, creating a persistent matchup advantage.
- Even accounting for Cleveland's shooting variance, Colin notes Cavaliers' guards like Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis lack the size to disrupt Brown and Tatum.