If there was any doubt about Jayson Tatum, then all of that should be put to bed after Tatum’s performance in Game 1 against the Brooklyn Nets.
Jayson Tatum was a superstar on both ends of the court, hitting the game-winning layup at the buzzer to give the Celtics the first game in this best of seven series.
The 24 year old Tatum finished with a team-high 31 points, shooting 50% from the field, a long with a team-high eight assists. Tatum also did a phenomenal job defensively in this game against Kevin Durant. Tatum shadowed Durant for 38 possessions and held him to a grand total of four points. Durant shot two-of-six, and had four turnovers. For the game, Durant was held to 23 points, which was the lowest playoff total of his Nets career.
Tatum’s stingy defense on Kevin Durant during the Nets’ final possession was a big reason why the Celtics were able to pull off the victory. It was arguably the most impressive defensive performance of Tatum’s career.
This postseason, Jayson Tatum has a real opportunity to make a indisputable case that he is a top-10 player in the world. Tatum has taken his game to new heights this season, as he registered a career high in points per game (26.9), rebounds per game (6.9), and assists per game (4.4). He led the NBA in defensive win shares (4.6), posted career highs in offensive win shares (5.0), and player efficiency rating (21.8). Tatum was named to his third-consecutive all-star game, and it feels like like almost a virtual certainty that Tatum will be selected to his first career All-NBA Team.
Tatum’s success this season has been different from prior seasons. The shooting splits don’t jump off the page, but his ability as a playmaker has improved significantly. His passing-ability has become a strength, and the Celtics have become one of the best passing-teams in the NBA because of it. Tatum is making players better every game, that just simply wasn’t the truth a season ago. Being a superstar in the NBA is more than just stuffing the box score. It’s about making others better around you, and this ultimately leads to team success.
If the Celtics are able to go on a deep playoff run, and Tatum continues to play at this high a level, the conversation surrounding Tatum will quickly pickup. Last year the NBA world marveled over Trae Young and Devin Booker for their deep playoff runs, and it now could be Tatum’s turn at the spotlight. Now, there still is a long way to go, but if the Celtics were to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, they would have defeated Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the Nets. And would have likely dethroned the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in the second-round. Clearly, none of that has yet to come to fruition, but it’s certainly possible.
As it is for many superstars, postseason play is pivotal. If Tatum continues to produce at this pace, being the catalyst for this Celtics team, he will quickly propel himself into an exclusive conversation. At age 24, Tatum hasn’t even really hit his prime, and the sky is the limit.
Jayson Tatum can go shot-for-shot with anybody in the NBA, and the story surrounding his 2021-2022 season was perfectly captured in his Game 1 performance against the Nets.
Jayson Tatum has officially arrived, and he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.