Jayson Tatum showed he’s a ‘top 10 player’ in Celtics’ Game 1 win

new balance

free keto book

Perkins: Jayson Tatum showed he’s a ‘top 10 player’ in Celtics’ Game 1 win originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Game 1 of the first-round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets was one of Jayson Tatum’s finest performances as an NBA player.

The Celtics forward scored a team-high 31 points, dished out a team-leading eight assists, pulled down four rebounds and blocked two shots in 45 minutes of action.

Oh, and he also secured a 115-114 win for the Celtics with a buzzer-beating layup and locking down Nets superstar Kevin Durant on defense during the previous possession.

What did Tatum prove in Sunday’s series-opening victory?

See also  Ex-Boston Celtics big man Juancho Hernangomez gets 13 points, 7 boards vs. Bulgaria with Spain

“That he’s a top 10 player in the NBA,” ESPN analyst and former Celtics center Kendrick Perkins said Monday morning on “First Take”.

“And it shouldn’t have just been yesterday, but what he’s been doing over the last couple of months. Look, no one has ever questioned Jayson Tatum based on his talent. The only thing I ever questioned about Jayson Tatum was his mentality. Meaning, I wanted to see the passion. I wanted to see the killer instinct. I wanted to see the kiss of death he’s been doing lately. That’s the Tatum I wanna see. If you notice, the way Boston plays, they feed off the energy of Tatum.

See also  Detroit Pistons' late run falls short in 110-108 loss to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

“Now we’re seeing a different version of him. I’m seeing him get into KD defensively. He’s checking KD and (scoring points) on the other end? This is the Jayson Tatum we’ve been looking for. Right now, from a talent aspect, and now he’s taken a leap as far as leadership and showing people why he’s a franchise player, he’s definitely in the top 10 players in the NBA.”

Tatum took his game to a higher level during the regular season, posting career highs with averages of 26.9 points, eight rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He was selected to his third consecutive All-Star Game and started in it for the first time this season.

See also  His trainer says he’s ‘in fantastic shape’

What we saw from Tatum on Sunday was a great example of the growth he’s made in all areas. He’s a more effective scorer, a better defensive player and a more passionate leader than he was even last season.

The road to the NBA Finals is a tough one in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics have a chance to get there, but they need Tatum to be a two-way force like he was in Game 1 against the Nets. So far, it appears he’s ready for the challenge.

anti radiation

new balance


Source link

crypto quantum