Jayson Tatum needs to take the final step forward into superstardom if the Celtics want a title
He's almost there!
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Let me start with this: I’ve loved seeing Jayson Tatum blossom. A couple of years ago, I saw him in person at Madison Square Garden as he dismantled the Knicks, and I couldn’t get over the confidence. Every time he touched the ball, he knew exactly what he was doing. It was methodical, smart and deadly, exactly what you want out of a centerpiece.
But as we’ve seen with Tatum, he’s not quite at superstar level yet.
Oh, he’s a star for sure. It was a fantastic fifth season for the forward after he averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists and threes made. You can see that at age 24, he’s put a lot of it together.
But in Game 1 against the Bucks? He struggled for a while. And for a talented Celtics team that could have a path to the NBA Finals with Khris Middleton out for Milwaukee, that can’t happen. There’s one more gear in him that he needs to kick in.
I might be rushing him a bit. After all, he’s only 24. He reached this particular echelon — star, but not quite MVP-level — just last year. There’s absolutely room for him to grow, even on a team where he shares the spotlight with Jaylen Brown.
And maybe that’s the plan in Boston, who could have a Tatum, Brown, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams core for a while. That’s a contending team right there … but only if Tatum gets to that extra level that the superstars have in this league.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Break up the Jazz? No, literally, they should break up the Jazz.
That was what our Prince Grimes wrote on Tuesday, with rumors swirling about Gobert maybe wanting out:
Here’s the thing, though, whether or not the report is actually true, Gobert (and Mitchell) would be right to want out of this pairing. It’s run its course — and that has absolutely nothing to do with their personal relationship, which probably ran its course a long time ago too since these reports keep coming. But even if their personal dealings are fine, we’ve seen the product on the court for long enough. If Gobert and Mitchell are the two best players on a team – which they probably always will be as long as they’re on a team together, because of the salaries they command – that team has a ceiling that isn’t an NBA championship. It might not even be Western Conference Finals.
One to Watch
(All odds via Tipico.)
Warriors (-1.5, -130) at Grizzlies (+105), O/U 227.5
(AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Will we see some more Draymond Green hijinks? Something that gets the league office’s attention? Beyond that, I’m super excited for what should be another great game. I’ll take the over, barely, given that these two did that in Game 1.
Who’s in and out?
— Celtics: Marcus Smart will be questionable for Tuesday night with a quad contusion.
— Mavericks: Maxi Kleber had a fall on to his back but he said he should be fine for Game 2 against the Suns.
Shootaround
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
— Ever wonder where Mike Breen’s “BANG!” call came from? We found the answer!
— JaVale McGee’s steal on Luka Doncic was an amazing play from Game 1 of the Suns’ win.
— Could the Raptors go after Gobert if he was available? That’s one idea from Hoops Hype.
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