Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum performing at elite level in playoffs

Jayson Tatum is leading the Boston Celtics this postseason with 18.3 points per game and is a huge reason they’re on the verge of making the Conference Final

In last summer’s draft, the Celtics traded the first overall pick to the Sixers. Because of the trade, they were awarded the third overall pick and selected Jayson Tatum out of Duke.

Markelle Fultz, the first overall pick, has had an injury-filled debut season and hasn’t seen the court in the playoffs. Safe to say that Tatum has been the more impactful rookie between the two to this point in their careers.

Tatum leading the Celtics

Despite being without their best player Kyrie Irving, the Celtics have been playing great playoff basketball. When Irving went down with a season-ending injury, a lot of people wrote off the Celtics.

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After winning in seven games against the Bucks in round 1, The Celtics have dominated the young 76ers in the Conference Semis. A vital reason for their success in the postseason and especially this series is because of the production from rookie Jayson Tatum.

Tatum has been absolutely outstanding in this series against Philly, outplaying fellow rookie counterpart Ben Simmons. He’s stepped up and led the Celtics with at least 20 points or more in five straight games, passing Larry Bird‘s previous record of four games.

Tatum is attempting lots of high percentage shots which is always good to see. He’s getting to the rim or getting in the paint for short jumpers rather than taking low percentage looks from downtown. The 20-year-old is playing like a seasoned veteran in the playoffs, not a first-year rookie.

Clutch performances

The former Duke standout is coming through when it matters most, too. For example, the Celtics OT win in game three against the Sixers. He scored five vital points, including a big lay-up when Boston was down by four with just under two minutes left. Tatum crossed over Joel Embiid with some nifty handles and drove to the rim, pump-faked, and put away an easy lay-up.

You would think in a pressure situation in the NBA playoffs as a rookie, Tatum would get nervous. He looks comfortable as ever. No moment is too big for Tatum right now.

The 20-year-old has been outplaying expected rookie of the year, Ben Simmons, all series long. He is also breaking records. According to Elias Sports, Tatum is the only player in NBA history to score 20+ points in five consecutive playoff games at 20 years old or younger. He’s also made Celtics rookie history surpassing Larry Bird for most consecutive games with 20 points or more as a first-year player.

Brad Stevens hasn’t hesitated to put the ball in Tatum’s hands when it matters most either. He has shown full belief in the rookie, giving him the opportunity to score in the most important situations.

Confidence is key, and Tatum has a ton of it. In the Celtics Game 4 loss to the Sixers, Tatum drove to the hoop for an aggressive dunk that he barely missed as he soared over Philly’s 7-foot star Joel Embiid. Right after the miss, he said to Embiid, “You got lucky”.

He’s walking the walk and talking the talk. If it wasn’t for the elite level that Tatum is playing at, there is no way Boston would be up 3-1 in this series and on the verge of advancing to the Eastern Conference finals.

It’s exciting to think how fantastic this team could be with Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, and Gordon Hayward all on the court at once. They are on the brink of making a conference final and they don’t even have Hayward or Irving. The future is certainly bright for the Celtics.

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Jayson Tatum deserves a lot of credit for the way he is playing in these playoffs. Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge made the right decision trading for the third pick in last year’s draft because they received one hell of an all-around player in Tatum.