Jayson Tatum looked like he had a chance to make history for himself after erupting for 31 points in the first half against the Nets Tuesday night. Brooklyn had no one who could contain him inside the arc and the All-Star was red-hot from 3-point range as well. However, Tatum was more than happy to serve as a decoy for much of the second half, scoring 41 points in Boston’s 118-110 win with a performance that earned him plenty of accolades from his coach.
“His growth as far as taking what the defense gives him,” Joe Mazzulla told reporters in Brooklyn about what has impressed him about his star. “I think his shot selection has been great over this stretch, I think his patience has been great over this stretch, reading the defense, manipulating the defense. I just think he’s continuing to get better and better as a player and you saw that tonight.”
Tatum has lifted his game to a different level in February, carrying Boston throughout a five-game winning streak with tremendous all-around play (29.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 6.5 apg). The balanced effort was on display Tuesday night as Tatum simply made the right play time and time again after intermission instead of chasing a potential scoring record.
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“I mean, no temptation,” Tatum said. “I’ve had my fair share in 50s, I’ve scored 60 before. I know I can do that, but it’s all about just playing in a rhythm. Came out in the second half knowing they might guard me differently so I was handling the ball a lot more and just trying to manipulate the defense. Whether they scored or not or kicked out for a hockey assist, I was trying to find ways to impact the game other than scoring.”
That type of growth has helped Boston begin to run away with the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed just as Tatum’s game is peaking. The Celtics now hold a six-game lead over the Cavs with 28 games remaining in the regular season, along with the second-easiest schedule left in the NBA. Boston’s been getting some inconsistent efforts of late from the likes of Jaylen Brown and the team’s reserves but it hasn’t mattered with Tatum’s maturity carrying the load through the dog days.
“The first half was true individual greatness, and the way he manipulated the defense in the second half was another sign of greatness,” Mazzulla told reporters in Brooklyn. “His ability and character to find different ways to be one of the best players on the floor and empower his teammates and understand that in order to get where we want to get to, it’s a team, and he truly understands that. It’s fun to watch.”
Tatum and the Celtics go for their sixth straight win back in Boston on Wednesday night with a rematch against the Nets.
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