Jason Tatum is having an incredible start to the NBA season. The Celtics are benefiting from his continued rise among elite players as they have posted a 10-3 record (as of this writing) not even a month into the season. It’s the 2nd best record in the NBA behind the Milwaukee Bucks.
Tatum is averaging more than 30 points per game, 7+ rebounds per game, and 4+ assists per game. That’s incredible production. I know it’s early but you get the sense from watching him play that he’s still just getting started.
What I love about his attitude — and note that he’s still just 24 years old, now in his 6th year in the NBA — is that he’ll be the first to tell you it’s all about TEAM and how the TEAM is doing, how the TEAM can get better.
I love this kid.
After making it to the NBA Finals last year and losing to the hardened, veteran Golden State Warriors, Tatum and co-star Jaylen Brown are focused on getting back to the Finals. Once there anything can happen, but you have to get there.
And with a first-time coach at the helm, Joe Mazzula (thanks to the Ime Uduka debacle), the Celtics veteran leadership is helping to keep the ship moving forward in the right direction.
Brown is playing great (a ho-hum second-fiddle with 25+ pts, 6+ rbs, 3+ assists). Marcus Smart is playing under control and limiting the turnovers while making his case to defend his NBA Defensive Player of the Year crown. And guys like Al Horford, Grant Williams, Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon are doing exactly what they’re supposed to do: complement the superstars by spacing the floor, hitting shots, getting rebounds, making the defense pay attention to all five guys, and of course playing great defense.
Add guys like Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet who are stepping up to bigger roles. And even deeper bench guys like Blake Griffin and Peyton Pritchard who are seeing fewer minutes than years past but when their number has been called they’ve answered with great contributions.
This is the stuff that makes a great TEAM.
And dare I mention that that Robert Williams, arguably their most valuable defensive player as the rim-protecting, mistake-erasing big man in the middle, hasn’t played yet due to offseason knee surgery? His presence on defense and as a pick-and-roll and lob threat on offense makes the Celtics even better.
I know it’s early, and I know I’m a “green-teamer” with unabashed optimism and loyalty, but it just feels like maybe there’s something in the water over at TD Garden this year that could be a key ingredient to another championship drive.
If Jason Tatum continues to lead the charge the way he has done through the first 15% of the season, and of course if they can stay healthy, the Celtics are going to be tough to beat.
The dream of Banner #18 for the Celtics franchise is alive and well.
