Jayson Tatum and his Boston Celtics squad have received a fair share of criticism over the years leading up to this point. Regardless of the scene, their talent and potential are undeniable. Unfortunately, the team did not make it to the NBA Finals this year. There may not have been too many issues with the roster but it was the Miami Heat who knew how to tackle the Celtics well.
During the 2021-22 season, nobody expected the Celtics to rise to the top and challenge for the title. They had quite an amazing run and it truly showed how well-rounded they can be. Boston is still an exceptionally strong team ranking second among the top defensive teams in the league. They have a defensive rating of 110.6 which ranks just under the Milwaukee Bucks. Boston is also known to have to best defensive rating of all time.
In terms of offense, Jayson Tatum has been at the forefront leading all players. Last season, he averaged a career-high 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. His teammate and long-time companion Jaylen Brown backed it up with 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
However, several people have argued that Brown and Tatum are too similar to be paired together. Recently Patrick Beverley also said the same indicating that it would make it easier for defenses to stop them. Ultimately, hindering their chances of winning championships.
Jayson Tatum warns the league that the Celtics dominate soon
After an impressive run that led to an upsetting Eastern Conference Finals exit, the Celtics have a lot to prove next season. However, they let go of Marcus Smart after nine years and a Defensive Player of the Year award victory. This brought Kristaps Porzingis to Boston for a two-year $60 million deal. This might be a good chance for the Celtics to shine and possibly push for a championship. Jayson Tatum has brought himself to the mindset of making it happen.
He recently told The Messenger Sports, “We’re far from perfect. We won’t ever get the credit we deserve until we actually win a championship. That is the ultimate goal, but you can’t bypass all the things we’ve accomplished in the six years we’ve been teammates at a very young age. We’ve been to the playoffs every single year, we’ve gotten better.”
“We are due to get over the hump. And it’s going to be well worth it when we do.”
– Jayson Tatum on playing with Jaylen Brown
(Via The Messenger Sports) pic.twitter.com/DMtABw5VZx
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 7, 2023
He added, “Yes, it took some time to figure out how we can be as special as we can be, and how we can co-exist and do it together. I know everybody says, ‘They take turns.’ I feel like we got to a place where we were feeding off each other, playing really well. We are due to get over the hump. And it will be well worth it when we do.”
Jayson Tatum seems to know where the Celtics’ worth lies amidst all the criticism. After all, it’s his confidence that will take the Celtics far ahead next season. Boston will take on the New York Knicks on October 25, 2023.
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