Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum strong start pivotal against Brooklyn Nets

After the embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, I used to be in search of Boston’s stars to step up, principally Jayson Tatum after he had a quiet recreation by his excessive requirements.

When the sport began, Tatum was at his finest. Though it was troublesome for the Boston Celtics to attain because the Nets made them work for each level, Tatum was there attending to his spots, one in all which was ultimately voted because the Play of the Recreation.

Tatum completed the primary quarter with 13 factors together with scoring the workforce’s remaining six factors to chop the Brooklyn Nets’ result in two. Popping out of the gates sizzling units the tone for each groups. It reveals the Celtics that their star is giving his all even when it’s only a Wednesday recreation towards a workforce that won’t make the playoffs, if he’s going robust, everybody round him has to. It additionally sends a message to the opposition that it’s going to be an extended evening for them if Boston’s star has a powerful begin.

Tatum was requested postgame by NBC Sports activities Boston’s Abby Chin how a lot accountability he places on himself to reply following a disappointing loss.

“[I] Simply wished to bounce again. That’s the advantage of the NBA, there’s at all times one other recreation. Whether or not it’s in two days, someday, or the following day,” Tatum stated. “We didn’t really feel nice on the aircraft final evening, however we had been excited for one more alternative to reply, I knew we had been going to play properly at this time.”

Tatum additionally acknowledged that it’s an extended season and despite the fact that they didn’t like that they misplaced, it’s vital to not get “too low.”

“For one being within the league for seven seasons now, the NBA is sort of a rollercoaster. Emotionally, the extra staying-level you possibly can keep at, I feel the higher you’ll be. You’ll be able to’t get too excessive on wins or too low on losses,” Tatum stated. “Not saying you sweep them below the rug. You acknowledge what transpired and why you misplaced and we did that. We’re all professionals and knew we may play higher and we dropped the ball on issues. However the signal of a very good workforce is the way you reply and coming off a back-to-back we had been down Al and simply performed this workforce and took it to time beyond regulation. I feel we responded in an effective way.”

What I loved most about Tatum’s efficiency was his shot choice. Earlier this season after the Pacers recreation, the All-Star spoke about not liking his shot choice after going 5-of-18 from three. When Jayson doesn’t have his shot going from deep, there are occasions when it appears to be like like he simply continues to jack up threes hoping it’ll ultimately go in. As an alternative, Tatum had a few good strikes ending along with his left hand which he spoke about postgame.

“I simply take what the protection provides me. I work actually laborious at this recreation and put loads into it. I prefer to credit score myself for having the ability to do a little bit of every part,” Tatum stated.

“I didn’t essentially play properly. Yesterday, I turned the ball over an excessive amount of. I simply wished to get again on monitor and attempt to dominate the sport the very best I may,” he stated.

In opposition to Brooklyn, his shot was falling, however he was mixing it up. He shot 5-of-6 from past the arc and his threes had been opened up by his menace of attacking the paint which he did numerous instances.

Photograph by Jeff Haynes/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

To start out the second half, I didn’t suppose Tatum may play significantly better and he proved me mistaken. He scored 15 factors within the third to essentially put a stamp on the sport and to ship a message to Brooklyn that they’d no hope.

Being led by your star in each halves reveals how locked in he’s. Nobody individual can do it themselves, however by Tatum being aggressive and making the suitable play, whether or not it’s scoring or facilitating (he completed 10 assists), he will get the opposite guys to comply with him.

Tatum was requested what has modified since he’s having his finest season with reference to assists and steals and his second finest season with reference to scoring.

“It’s solely 13 video games so there’s nonetheless an extended method to go earlier than we are able to examine it to different seasons. Getting older and being in higher bodily form. Being 26 that is the very best bodily I’ve felt in comparison with different years…,” Tatum stated.

Every season, I search for what gamers do in another way than within the earlier season and for Tatum, it’s clear: begin the sport sizzling and set the tone. In opposition to Brooklyn, he did it in each halves which was pivotal in Boston’s win.