TD GARDEN, BOSTON — On NBA Finals Media Day, Jayson Tatum was requested by the Globe’s Gary Washburn about being probably the most scrutinized participant within the playoffs.
“You suppose so?” Tatum responded with a chuckle.
It’s not a daring declare. Tatum has been scrutinized all postseason, whether or not for his taking pictures struggles, for not smiling exhausting sufficient when his co-pilot Jaylen Brown received Jap Convention Finals MVP (he was), or not seeming upset sufficient on the podium after the Celtics’ two playoff losses, regardless of being even-keeled has been a elementary a part of his character.
“Did it get outdated?” Tatum requested of the elevated adverse protection of him in current days. “Yeah. However, you already know, it’s the Finals. They wouldn’t discuss me if I wasn’t good, so… Attempt to take some positives out of it and alter the channel.”
Thus far, the criticism has been unsubstantiated
Jayson Tatum’s poor exhibiting within the 2022 Finals appear to be on the heart of conversations relating to his present showings.
Within the Jap Convention Finals, Jayson Tatum averaged 30.3 factors, 10.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, whereas taking pictures 46.3% from the sector. He was strong defensively – as he has been all 12 months – and emerged as an elite playmaker, a phenomena that was punctuated by his jaw-dropping go to Al Horford for a crunch-time three within the waning minutes of Recreation 3, a play that Jaylen Brown famously mentioned ought to be hung “within the f****** Louvre.”
Jayson Tatum completed the common season averaging 26.9 factors, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per recreation. His 47.1% from the sector was his highest effectivity since his rookie season, and his 2.5 turnovers an evening was his lowest since 2020 — a mirrored image of a heightened emphasis on caring for the ball and passing out of doubles. And the accolades mirrored his success; Tatum was named to the All-NBA First Crew for the third consecutive 12 months, and chosen as an All Star for the fifth straight.
Nonetheless, the overall feeling — amongst nationwide media, amongst native media, on social media — has been that Tatum has been disappointing. Generally, that criticism is within the type of describing his teammates elite performances as “bailing him out” quite than the merely celebrating these gamers’ success. When Derrick White is elite, as he was in Spherical 1, the narrative is that Tatum is being carried by an excellent crew. When it’s Jaylen Brown who’s dominant, it’s a drained comparability of the 2 stars quite than an appreciation of every of their success.
However although the discourse and critiques proceed to make headlines, his teammates and coaches proceed to reward Tatum for his character, reliability, and strategy.
“Your franchise participant must be a cornerstone of what you do,” Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “It begins together with his excessive character, the way in which he carries himself, who he’s as a dad, who he’s as a teammate. His availability. He’s there for each single observe, each single recreation. Loves being coached. Simply carries himself one of the simplest ways. There’s nobody like him. He’s nice.”
The veteran Jrue Vacation, a star in his personal proper, praised Tatum (and Brown) for the way they’ve dealt with all of the adverse consideration.
“The strain that JB and JT should tackle is one thing totally different,” Vacation mentioned yesterday. “I’ve informed them this earlier than, but it surely’s actually spectacular how they deal with themselves, how they keep skilled, how they nonetheless come out each recreation and do what they do. Yeah, I feel it’s extraordinarily spectacular how they try this.”
Banner 18 is seven-ish video games away
With Jayson Tatum on the helm, the Celtics had a traditionally dominant season — ending 64-18, with a 37-4 residence document, and the sixth highest all-time complete level differential throughout the common season.
There was by no means any drama, by no means any finger-pointing on the podium. Certain, they dropped a few video games they shouldn’t have, however they nearly at all times bounced again, by no means shedding greater than two video games in a row.
The crew by no means handled any controversies. No distracting off-court tales. And the sweetness of their collective was that it by no means was only one participant — and that began with Jayson Tatum.
He quietly put collectively a masterful season, however comfortably deferred to others quite than chasing his personal accolades or level totals. On the identical time, he has a monitor document of stepping up and being “the man” when wanted, whether or not that’s his 51-point Recreation 7 vs. Philadelphia within the semi-finals final 12 months, or his 46-point Recreation 6 towards the Bucks in an elimination recreation on the highway in 2022. If a giant night time is required for him to get a Finals win, he’ll extra possible than not step as much as the problem.
A few 40-point performances would have possible altered the narrative round Jayson Tatum’s “quiet” postseason, however high-scoring outputs had been by no means the objective.
Banner 18 is.
And Jayson Tatum — and the 2024 Boston Celtics — are just a few weeks away from the tip prize. When it’s all mentioned and executed, not one of the narratives will matter.
