Picks 'n Pops: Jayson Tatum benched again, Steve Kerr's math, and the most emotional moment in sports

Every week I gather some thoughts about the Celtics, the NBA, and beyond and dump them here. Because my cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine was cut for time.

- Jayson Tatum’s second benching of the Olympics is even more perplexing than his first one. This game wasn’t nearly as easy as the first one, and Team USA could have really used a big, two-way, ball-moving forward as they fell behind big against Serbia. 

The Tyrese Haliburton DNPs make a little more sense because he obviously struggles as a defender, but Tatum can be part of a switchable, long defense that can help bother … oh, let’s say a team bombing away 3 and building a big lead while your team struggles and could use some stops and easy baskets. 

This time around, the decision bordered on obstinate. Kerr was determined to do this his way and that was that. And, as usual, Steph Curry was a big part of bailing him out. 

If Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant didn’t do what they did to end the fourth quarter, the Americans would be fighting for bronze tomorrow. 

- Can we just appreciate what we saw out of Curry, James, and Durant to end that game? This is what megastar-level players do. They just find a way to raise their games down the stretch of important games. LeBron especially decided that they were not losing that game. 

If we’re being honest, that's the thing Tatum doesn’t truly have. He’s done it here and there, which is why he’s still among the league’s best and the Celtics were able to win a championship with him. But he’s not capable of doing what LeBron has done multiple times already. He doesn’t have that Hulk-up level that he can tap into at will almost every time it’s needed. 

- USA Basketball needs to take a real look at this run and understand two things: The competition is getting exponentially better and the construction of the team needs to change. 

Just putting 12 stars together doesn’t cut it anymore. The team needs a better balance of stars and role players. If they're not going to play Tatum and Haliburton, then those guys might as well be Alex Caruso and Herb Jones. Give me two more role players who can defend, hit 3-pointers, and just make the right plays. And if they sit out, they sit out. It’s not a big deal. 

- We saw Tatum seem engaged on the bench during the game, but the Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach is in Paris and he saw something different. 

“He appeared disengaged on the bench for much of Thursday’s game and his frustrations over the past two weeks have been apparent.”

Give me the over on whatever point totals are set for Tatum against Golden State from now on. Also give me the over on “glares at the opposing bench after a basket.” 

- Jalen Brunson was named Knicks captain, the first captain they’ve had in six seasons. Can you name the last Celtics captain? The answer later. 

- No, I did not forget about Joel Embiid, who had his best game of the Olympics, especially if you only focus on the offensive end. I suppose we can give him a pass on his lack of rebounding since Serbia was unable to cash in. 

- The Celtics will host the Sixers on Christmas day. Looks like it will be in the middle of the TV schedule.

- USA-Serbia was another Mazzulla-ball masterpiece in action. Serbia’s 3-point shooting variance carried them with 15 3-pointers through three quarters. They hit none in the fourth and USA kept firing, helping fuel a huge fourth-quarter comeback. 

- Bogdan Bogdanovic’s beef with Carmelo Anthony was confusing. What’s his problem? Is it because Melo was part of a 30 drubbing of Serbia? 

Either way, if you’re gonna talk that much trash, you can’t go 0-3 from 3 in the fourth as your team collapses. Now he looks like an idiot. 

- Gordon Hayward admits he was going to sign with Miami instead of Boston when he left Utah. That sucks for Heat fans because there's a good chance Hayward would have stayed healthy as a member of the Heat and lived up to his promise. 

- Guerschon Yabusele has a chance to knock off Team USA. I never thought I’d ever type that sentence and actually mean it. 

- Speaking of former Celtics bigs with ample backsides, Jared Sullinger is still doing basketball things. 

He was TBT’s MVP, and his team of Ohio State alums got to split a million bucks. Not bad. 

- Oshae Brissett is leaving the door open for a return to Boston. I’m not sure that door is open on the Boston side, though. 

- Tatum’s mom is confused too. 

- I can’t speak for Tatum on this, but if the US wins gold and I was in Tatum’s situation, I wouldn’t even display that medal in my trophy case. I might put a picture in there, but not the medal. 

That I might put in my locker so every time I look at it I remember how even winning a championship and making first-team All-NBA isn’t enough; that there will always be doubters and every day is a chance to prove them wrong. 

I’m a big believer in silver linings and the concept that sometimes the worst thing to happen is the best thing that can happen. Getting benched in these games could be the push Tatum needs after feeling like he’d reached a mountain top. 

- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pulled an incredibly psychotic move with his team. Here it is, via The Athletic:

“At a dinner with his players, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta secretly hired a team of professional pickpockets. The sleight-of-hand artists were tasked with going round the tables, pinching phones and wallets from an unwitting first-team squad.

At the end of the meal, Arteta stood up and asked them the team to empty their pockets. A number of players were missing valuable items. The idea was to teach his squad the importance of being ready, alert and prepared — at all times.”

Joe Mazzulla has to be so jealous of this move. There is a 100% chance he does this with the Celtics. I can’t imagine him letting a move like this go without trying it himself. 

- Kerr on Tatum’s benching: 

“Our second unit was not great last night, but that group has been one of the bright spots on this team, especially on the defensive end. So it’s not about what Jayson is doing or not doing. 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.”

Spare me. The bench being bad in a game means it’s an opportunity to go to someone else because you have an ALL-NBA PLAYER JUST SITTING THERE! 

This team is supposed to be math-proof. If Kerr can’t do the math, then hire someone who can. 

- Happy 96th birthday Bob Cousy. We love ya, Cooz. 

- Rajon Rondo was team captain in 2014, so the Celtics have gone 10 years since naming one. Cousy was the first-ever Celtics captain. 

- Pervis Elison was once a Celtics captain, which kind of takes the steam out of how prestigious the position is. Then again, I suppose there has to be a James Buchanan in every group of leaders.

- Drake Maye only got six plays last night? When did Steve Kerr get named Patriots head coach?

- Steven Adams pretending not to speak English to escape Kevin Garnett’s wrath is hilarious: 

- Watching a wrestler retire by leaving his shoes on the mat is one of the most emotional things you’ll see in sports. It gets me every time. 

- It’s sad that a voice issue has forced Steven Tyler into retirement, but it’s amazing that his style of singing lasted until 76 years old. 

- Here’s today’s Bing AI-generated image: One is the loneliest number

- Here’s my latest podcast, if you’re bored.