Boston Celtics: 3 keys to the Celtics’ current winning streak

(Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

1. Jayson Tatum’s Rise to Stardom

It’s truly difficult to describe Jayson Tatum. One game he can’t find the bottom of the bucket, and the next it seems like the basket is five feet wider and he doesn’t miss. Basically, when he has it going, watch out. With the way the last few games have gone, it seems as if Tatum may have found his groove.

Throughout the six-game winning streak, Tatum has played in five of those games, and has scored 20-plus in all of them, even eclipsing 30 points in their last two games (vs. Orlando and Atlanta). He is even shooting efficiently in his last five too, shooting 47 percent from the floor. If that kind of efficiency becomes a normal thing for Tatum, Celtics fans should be thrilled. The knock on his game this season has been his shot selection and efficiency.

On top of those numbers, Tatum is shooting an absurd 48.8 percent from 3-point range during the streak and is shooting almost nine per game. That kind of volume and ability is something only seen typically from the likes of James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. While it is unreasonable to expect those numbers to last, if Tatum can keep his percentages around 45 percent from the field and 43 percent from three, things will be good for the Boston Celtics.

On top of his offensive outbursts, Tatum has elevated his defense to a high level as well. Throughout the season, Tatum is averaging 1.4 steals and just about 1.0 block per game. Over the last six games, those numbers are now 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per contest. He has taken on the responsibilities of each opponent’s best wing players and has done a wonderful job guarding them, for the most part.

The Celtics would not be anywhere close to their current record without Tatum. He leads the team in +/- at 8.7, and on top of that, has increased that to a team-leading 14.0 over the last 6. If you lessen that to remove the game he missed, he trails only Marcus Smart in team +/-. It’s safe to say he has taken the steps that were waiting to be seen last season. All that’s left is for him to continue his ascension and the team should let him lead the way.

The sky is the limit for Tatum, and the Celtics as well.