After a very difficult first part of the season, the Celtics have found the right formula, and here they are at the head of a series of eight straight victories. It’s simply the best current series in the entire NBA, and Ime Udoka’s players are now 6th in the East, ultimately not far from the top three.
Sunday evening, Boston dominated Atlanta (105-95) and Jayson Tatum confirmed that he had taken 2022 by the right end with 38 points and 10 rebounds, but also 3 assists and 2 blocks. A big performance at 13 out of 27 on shots, including 4 out of 10 from 3-pointers, and we will especially remember his heat stroke in the 3rd quarter with 16 points to allow the Celtics to erase a 10-point deficit, then to widen the gap.
“We created good situations. We said to ourselves that we had to make successful stops, project ourselves on transition, and attack the circle” explains the Boston winger. “If the Hawks help too much, we had to quickly turn the game around, and not try to stagnate. And that’s what we did. “
What Tatum forgets to say is that there is still a lot of isolation on his part. As he had a warm hand, and the Hawks were quickly in the penalty in this 3rd quarter, it could be justified. What was also justified is that he often found himself facing Onyeka Okongwu, stronger but less mobile than him. But the Celtics’ offense might be even more effective if he dribbled less.
On the other hand, he is right: everything starts from the defense. The Celtics have the best defense in the NBA in 2022 and tonight they keep a new opponent under 100 points. A sector in which Tatum is progressing as evidenced by his two blocks and his interception. For him, having an empty infirmary changes a lot of things.
” We are now in good health, and injuries undermined us at the start of the season. Now, I’ve been in basketball long enough to know that there are ups and downs, and the most important thing was to not lose sight of our goal. “
A priori, it remains the title…
| Jayson Tatum | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 80 | 31 | 47.5 | 43.4 | 82.6 | 0.6 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 13.9 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 79 | 31 | 45.0 | 37.3 | 85.5 | 0.9 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 15.7 |
| 2019-20 | BOS | 66 | 34 | 45.0 | 40.3 | 81.2 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 23.4 |
| 2020-21 | BOS | 64 | 36 | 45.9 | 38.6 | 86.8 | 0.8 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 | BOS | 53 | 36 | 43.1 | 32.4 | 84.1 | 1.2 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 4.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 25.5 |
| Total | 342 | 33 | 45.2 | 38.0 | 84.0 | 0.9 | 5.7 | 6.6 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 20.3 | |
