January is coming to shut and the midseason doldrums of the NBA season are upon us, and it’s time for Participant of the Week as soon as extra. Final week introduced three video games for the Celtics, all wins as part of their erstwhile nine-game profitable streak — Monday at Charlotte, Thursday at residence in opposition to Golden State and Saturday at Toronto. Let’s check out the gamers who moved the needle this week, and crown our weekly standout.
Honorable Mentions
It was an enormous week for the frontcourt this time round. Robert Williams is admittedly rounding into type for this group, and posted a few stable performances — together with a dominant outing in opposition to the undersized Warriors — earlier than hyperextending his knee after quarter-hour in opposition to the Raptors. In the meantime, Al Horford had his finest particular person efficiency of the season in opposition to Golden State, scoring 20 factors and blocking three photographs. Grant Williams picked up the scoring load in opposition to Toronto with a 25-point outburst, a season-high and his second time cracking the 20-point threshold this yr.
This week, although, we’re going again to #0 for the {hardware}.
CelticsBlog Participant of the Week #14: Jayson Tatum
2 GP, 44.1 MPG, 42.5 PPG (48% FG, 44% 3PT), 14 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, +22
It was every week of headlines for Tatum, who takes residence the {hardware} this week even whereas taking some well-earned time without work to relaxation his ailing left wrist on Saturday in opposition to Toronto. The marquee efficiency: 51 factors in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday evening. It was the fifth 50-point sport Tatum within the common season (he additionally has one within the play-in event and one within the playoffs), breaking a tie with none aside from Larry Chook for many such video games in Boston Celtics historical past.
Let’s take into consideration that once more: essentially the most in Celtics’ historical past. Jayson Tatum isn’t even 25 years previous but, and he’s surpassed Chook’s complete of 50-point performances in lower than half as many profession video games. Offense within the NBA could also be at an all=time excessive, however the rarified air he’s put himself in over such a brief time frame stays one thing really particular.
This was one of many extra environment friendly 50-point video games you’ll see. Tatum shot 65% from the sector on the afternoon, together with an ideal 14-for-14 from the free throw line. The Celtics jumped on the Hornets from the opening tip, and Tatum was concerned in all of it. He scored at the very least 9 level in all 4 quarters, together with 18 within the fourth to place Charlotte on ice for good.
Then there was the Warriors. After a disappointing blowout loss of their first rematch with the defending champs on the highway, the Celtics hosted them on the TD Backyard for his or her last common season matchup of the yr. The outcome, you absolutely know — after three quarters of scuffling, the Celtics made performs down the stretch, tying the sport up on the finish of regulation and hanging on to win in time beyond regulation.
It was, in all, a Herculean effort. Tatum tied his career-high in single-game minutes with 48, together with taking part in your entire second half and time beyond regulation with out a break. It wasn’t the prettiest efficiency you’ve ever seen, however there was a stage of grit to it that was missing of their final matchup. Tatum didn’t shoot effectively, nor did Brown, however that didn’t cease both of them from competing. This was a sport this group wished to win.
Outdoors of the taking pictures, this was some of the ostentatious stat strains of Tatum’s profession. The 34 factors are one thing we’re accustomed to at this level; he’s averaging 31 per sport this season. The 19 rebounds and 6 assists, although, had been a welcome addition. The Warriors taking part in small, mixed together with his heavy minutes load, led to a career-high on the boards as he secured the defensive glass. Given the character of his sport, it’s generally simple to overlook that Tatum is among the tallest gamers on the court docket at any given time — a serious contributor to his career-high 21.7% rebound proportion on the season.
The taking pictures numbers had been ugly, however frustration didn’t creep its approach into the opposite sides of Tatum’s sport the best way it generally does in his off nights. He locked in defensively, notably within the fourth quarter as a part of an effort that held the Warriors to only 32% taking pictures down the stretch.
A win in January doesn’t undo what occurred in final summer season’s NBA Finals — not even shut. However on the very least, the specter of that collection received’t loom over this group anymore. The Celtics scored a hard-fought and emotional win that resonated about as a lot as any common season sport might. Jayson Tatum was essential in making that occur.
That’s all for this week. Transferring ahead, we’ve obtained a busy one for the boys in inexperienced — a Monday/Tuesday back-to-back in opposition to the Warmth and Magic, a Thursday evening matchup in opposition to the Knicks, and a Saturday evening showdown with the arch-rival Lakers. With the group coping with some accidents, will there be a shock contribution from one of many bench gamers pressed into motion? Tell us your ideas within the feedback under.
