Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum silences critics, leads team to four-game win streak

Just a matter of weeks ago, critics were getting on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum‘s back for his demeanor on the court. These critics included Celtics 2008 NBA champion Kendrick Perkins. Perk tweeted out that Tatum had the body language and energy level of an underpaid player. This came during a frustrating loss to the division rival Philadelphia 76ers just a week ago. Fast forward a week, and the Celtics have a current four-game win streak going, which is mainly a result of Tatum’s presence on the floor.

Jaylen Brown went off for 32 points and 10 rebounds as the Celtics hosted the Knicks last Wednesday, as Tatum responded to his critics by adding 25 points and matched Brown’s total of boards. Since then, the Celtics have put together an impressive offensive display against Minnesota, and an important comeback win over the Denver Nuggets and a strong performance over the Portland Trail Blazers to begin their west coast trip.

Just weeks after being criticized for his demeanor on the court, Jayson Tatum is now as locked in as ever as he’s lead to Boston Celtics to four straight wins

This has been perhaps Tatum’s best streak of the season thus far. He has averaged 34.5 points per game over these four. Oh, and he posted a cool career-high 53 as the Celtics hosted the Timberwolves on Friday night, where he became the first Celtics player since Larry Bird in 1985 to score 53+ in a regular-season game. Tatum’s display in itself was enough to propel the Celtics over the Wolves in an overtime win. If that isn’t a way to silence your doubters then I don’t know what is.

It’s no secret that the Celtics haven’t been a good basketball team this year. Sloppy performances, players missing time, and all-around off-nights have seen the Celtics drop plenty of winnable games all year around. These last four games get the Celts to 29-26 and fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. If they keep it going they could easily solidify that fourth spot, and it would be a very good look considering where they were just a few weeks back.

The effort levels have looked much better though of late. The fourth quarter against the Nuggets on Sunday was a prime example of this. The Celts trailed in a tight one 79-74 as they entered a final period in which Denver managed a feeble eight team points, compared to Boston’s healthy 31. Tatum went 5-of-8 from the field in the fourth, as he led the Celtics to an important win over a contending team in the West.

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Tuesday night saw the Celts win another tightly contested game in Portland in the teams’ first meeting of the season. Tatum went toe-to-toe with one of his basketball heroes in Carmelo Anthony – another guy who knows a thing or two about silencing his haters. Melo posted 25 points on 66.7 percent shooting from the floor and 60.0 percent from 3-point range off of the Blazer bench. But, it was the Celtics who ended up coming out on top down the stretch.

After a back and forth game, the Celtics were able to get separation down the stretch with a Jayson Tatum dagger 3-points shot with just 7.8 seconds left on the clock. There was time for new Blazer Norman Powell to knock down a distanced 3 of his own, and then a foul which sent Marcus Smart to the line for two. Smart ended up missing both, but great pressure defense from Tatum and Kemba Walker stopped Damian Lillard from pushing it up the court or making any significant shot of his own.

The Celtics’ four-game win streak has been far from simple. Each game has provided obstacles, but that’s what this season is all about. For the Celtics this season, it might be hard to deny that the standout star has been Jaylen Brown, but there’s no denying that Tatum has played at an All-NBA level for the majority of his time on the floor. Blips will happen, and this season in all honesty feels like it should be a write-off anyway. Nevertheless, Tatum has played a major role in getting the Celts to where they are now.

They’re on pace to make the playoffs and should do this with no problems. Yes, they’re not anywhere near the level of Brooklyn, Philadelphia, or even Milwaukee, but when the Celtics get to the postseason they always seem to get to a different kind of level of basketball. Let’s hope that’s the case again this year, and why shouldn’t it be? This is still one of the best rosters in the NBA and they’ll get a chance to prove that on the big stage again.