'NO SENSE'
Jayson Tatum’s mom demands answers over ‘unacceptable’ playing time during Team USA’s Olympic quest for gold
Team USA head coach Steve Kerr described Tatum's absence as a 'math problem'
JAYSON Tatum was benched once again during Team USA's victory over Serbia in the men's basketball semifinals.
And the Boston Celtics star's mom Brandy Cole has demanded answers over the NBA champion's lack of playing time in Paris.
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Cole aired her grievances in response to a social media post by ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, who also queried why Tatum was not playing more.
“Someone pls let me know is @jaytatum0 injured as he hasn’t received the PT ( playing time ) u would expect an All NBAplayer to get," Vitale wrote.
“No he not,” Cole responded.
"But if you find out what’s going on please let me know – unacceptable and makes NO SENSE.”
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Team USA head coach Steve Kerr recently described Tatum’s lack of playing time as a “math problem”.
“It’s not about anything Jayson is doing or not doing,” Kerr said.
“It’s just about combinations and the way that group has played together, the way Kevin [Durant] has filled in since he came back from his injury.
"It’s just a math problem more than anything.”
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Kerr explained that Tatum’s lack of playing time is not based on his talent nor his form.
“It’s not what I’m not seeing from Jayson. It’s what I’ve seen from the other guys,” Kerr said.
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“Like I’ve said many times during this tournament and this last six weeks, it’s just hard to play 11 people, even in an NBA game."
Tatum did not play a minute when Team USA cruised past Serbia in the Olympic opener, 110-84.
Afterwards, Kerr said he “felt like an idiot not playing” the Celtics star.
"But, in a 40-minute game, you can't play more than 10 [players]," Kerr told ESPN.
Kerr revealed he had talked to Tatum about the snub prior to the win in Lille.
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And the 58-year-old indicated there would be plenty of opportunities for the Celtics star going forward in the competition.
"Jayson handled it really well," Kerr continued.
"I talked to him today before the game that it might play out this way.
"It seems crazy. I thought I was crazy when I looked at everything and determined these are the lineups I want to get to.
"Jayson's first-team All-NBA three years in a row, he's one of the best players in the world."
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Tatum has averaged 6.3 points, six rebounds and three assists in the time he has played in Paris.
Team USA will play host nation France in the gold medal match on Saturday.