Jayson Tatum for the Win
I have been hard on Jayson Tatum. I’ve labeled him a “budding” Super Star. Correctly. I have criticized is offensive game. Accurately. I have questioned his heart and will for winning. Rightfully. But, if I am anything it is fair. Last night Jayson Tatum won the game.
The Celtics down 5 with :45 seconds to go, he had the final 3 buckets for the team in a game they won by one. He also made the defensive play on Brad Beal’s final shot and the defensive play to forced the turnover down by one. The buckets he made were aggressive tough finishes at the rim. It’s what I’ve been calling for him to do for two years now. He did not play for the foul he played to make the shot. And guess what, the more you do that and make those shots the whistles start to follow. It’s not reverse. Please note the And 1 on the game winner.
It was a good win for a team still in turmoil. Missing Jaylen Brown, your start goes off for 31 and single handedly carries the team in the final minutes of a close game. Now, stack that performance on 82 games in a row plus the play offs and we can knock off all that “budding” business.