Upward Trajectory

In the early months of the season in November and December, Boston was on the brink of disaster. Tatum was playing a lot of isolation, and the NBA world would have never guessed that this Celtics team would be in the position it is currently in.

The majority of the success in the last three months is much to the credit of the 24-year-old Jayson Tatum who is rising in the ranks of the NBA elites. His ability to create havoc without the basketball, and locate open teammates has manifested Tatum into the upper echelon of superstars. Boston has slowly come into the view as a possible title contender, and Tatum and the offensive tear that he is on is the biggest reason why.

Last week, head coach Ime Udoka talked about Tatum, stating, "Not only the scoring aspect...the attention he draws and wide-open shots he gets for everybody else. But obviously, he’s been on a crazy tear right now; he’s getting the matchups he wants to get to, the spots he wants to get, the shot he wants, so that’s a huge luxury, obviously, to have one guy that can do that."

In a win over the Hornets last week Tatum tied the great Celtic big man Kevin McHale for most points in consecutive contests with 98. His shot-making ability and step-back jumper are becoming one of the most lethal in the modern NBA. The former Duke Blue Devil tied Larry Bird after he dropped 54 against the Nets for most 50 point games in Boston Celtic history. With many people counting out Boston early on in the season, the Celtics have found a way to completely flip the script on the NBA with Tatum leading the charge on the offensive end.

Tatum is making his presence known at just the right time. With players like Embiid, Giannis, and Durant in the Eastern Conference, Tatum needs to be great, and recently he has. Every single season Tatum has increased his scoring total, including in 2022. The thing that stands out the most from Tatum this season is the play through double teams. Opponents key in on the three-time All-Star and force him to pass the basketball. Tatum reacts to the double faster and finds open individuals like Williams and Smart who have become more reliable from downtown than ever before this season. The role players have been essential, but Tatum’s play and movement have made their job a lot easier.

Tatum has the seventh-highest usage percentage in the NBA this season and is in the top-10 in the NBA in minutes played per game. With the Celtics' defense playing great the majority of the season, and Tatum and his ability to take over contests no matter the opponent should scare the Eastern Conference with just a few weeks left in the regular season. The Celtics have given up 100 or more points in four out of the last five contests, but Tatum has led the charge in Boston winning four out of those five.

Teams cannot easily converge on Tatum anymore or play a zone as the Heat did a few years ago in the Eastern Conference Finals to stymie the Celtics on their path to the finals. Tatum makes the correct reads and has this demeanor near the basket that he knows he has every move in the book to get by the defense. Boston's defense late in games like at home against Detroit the other night was key, but having someone like Tatum on the streak he is on, is as valuable as it gets in the NBA today.

Since the All-Star break, the former Blue Devils’ shooting efficiency has improved, but most of the work he is doing is off the ball. Tatum has learned so much since entering the league as the number three overall pick in 2017. From a sole isolation player who was too naive to take advantage of what the defense was giving him, to a player that has without a doubt mastered the modern NBA defense strategy. Hesitation was something that was part of Tatum's game, but now he shots the ball with confidence and a follow-through every time.

At the young age of 24, Tatum is reminding Celtics fans of glimpses of Paul Pierce and Larry Bird. The broken records reiterate that thought as well as his self-assurance and respect that the opposition gives him night in and night out. He may be a long way away from becoming the next Pierce or Bird, but the young forward has yet to hit his prime. "MVP" chants were echoing through the TD Garden over the last few weeks, as Beantown knows, Tatum is a talent that does not come around every few years.

With the Celtics keen on a long playoff run, Tatum and his elevated game will have to be the catalyst. He is slowly putting his name into the MVP conversation, and after a year where he missed out on All-NBA, Tatum is out for revenge. As each game passes by, it looks like Tatum is becoming more and more comfortable, and this run of games he has been on does not seem to be coming to an end anytime soon.

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