Tim Hardaway Jr.’s situation in the 2024 NBA Finals reflects a challenging period where he had struggled to find his form, despite earlier successes in the regular season. Coach Jason Kidd took a gamble by giving him significant minutes in Game 3, hoping he could ignite the team off the bench. Unfortunately, Hardaway Jr. didn’t make an impact, which likely influenced Kidd’s decision to reduce his role as the playoffs progressed.
Coaches often have to make tough decisions based on current performance rather than past achievements. Despite earning Kidd’s trust earlier in the season with strong play, Hardaway Jr.’s recent struggles led to him falling out of the rotation during the critical playoff stretch.
This is a common scenario in professional sports, where coaches must constantly evaluate and adjust their strategies to give the team the best chance to win.
Tim Hardaway Jr.’s ability to score 15 points in a blowout game, despite recent struggles, demonstrates his potential impact when he finds his shooting rhythm. If Jason Kidd decides to trust him with significant minutes again in future games of the series, Hardaway Jr. could indeed become a threat, especially as a sharpshooter capable of changing the game with his scoring.
For the Celtics, it would be crucial to monitor Hardaway Jr. closely if he starts to heat up. His shooting prowess could potentially swing the momentum in favor of the Mavericks, making him a player Boston would need to defend closely to prevent him from getting into a scoring groove.
