This is Jayson Tatum’s moment – and he will capitalize on it 

TD GARDEN, BOSTON — On NBA Finals Media Day, Jayson Tatum was requested by the Globe’s Gary Washburn about being probably the most scrutinized participant within the playoffs.

“You suppose so?” Tatum responded with a chuckle.

It’s not a daring declare. Tatum has been scrutinized all postseason, whether or not for his taking pictures struggles, for not smiling laborious sufficient when his co-pilot Jaylen Brown received Jap Convention Finals MVP (he was), or not seeming upset sufficient on the podium after the Celtics’ two playoff losses, regardless of being even-keeled has been a elementary a part of his character.

​​“Did it get outdated?” Tatum requested of the elevated detrimental protection of him in current days. “Yeah. However, you already know, it’s the Finals. They wouldn’t discuss me if I wasn’t good, so… Attempt to take some positives out of it and alter the channel.”

Up to now, the criticism has been unsubstantiated

Jayson Tatum’s poor exhibiting within the 2022 Finals appear to be on the middle of conversations relating to his present showings.

Within the Jap Convention Finals, Jayson Tatum averaged 30.3 factors, 10.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, whereas taking pictures 46.3% from the sphere. He was stable defensively – as he has been all 12 months – and emerged as an elite playmaker, a phenomena that was punctuated by his jaw-dropping cross to Al Horford for a crunch-time three within the waning minutes of Recreation 3, a play that Jaylen Brown famously mentioned ought to be hung “within the f****** Louvre.”

Jayson Tatum completed the common season averaging 26.9 factors, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per sport. His 47.1% from the sphere was his highest effectivity since his rookie season, and his 2.5 turnovers an evening was his lowest since 2020 — a mirrored image of a heightened emphasis on taking good care of the ball and passing out of doubles. And the accolades mirrored his success; Tatum was named to the All-NBA First Crew for the third consecutive 12 months, and chosen as an All Star for the fifth straight.

Nonetheless, the final feeling — amongst nationwide media, amongst native media, on social media — has been that Tatum has been disappointing. Generally, that criticism is within the type of describing his teammates elite performances as “bailing him out” reasonably than the merely celebrating these gamers’ success. When Derrick White is elite, as he was in Spherical 1, the narrative is that Tatum is being carried by a brilliant group. When it’s Jaylen Brown who’s dominant, it’s a drained comparability of the 2 stars reasonably than an appreciation of every of their success.

However although the discourse and critiques proceed to make headlines, his teammates and coaches proceed to reward Tatum for his character, reliability, and strategy.

“​​Your franchise participant needs to be a cornerstone of what you do,” Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “It begins along with his excessive character, the best way he carries himself, who he’s as a dad, who he’s as a teammate. His availability. He’s there for each single observe, each single sport. Loves being coached. Simply carries himself the easiest way. There’s nobody like him. He’s nice.”

The veteran Jrue Vacation, a star in his personal proper, praised Tatum (and Brown) for the way they’ve dealt with all of the detrimental consideration.

“The strain that JB and JT need to tackle is one thing completely different,” Vacation mentioned yesterday. “I’ve instructed them this earlier than, but it surely’s actually spectacular how they deal with themselves, how they keep skilled, how they nonetheless come out each sport and do what they do. Yeah, I believe it’s extraordinarily spectacular how they do this.”

Banner 18 is seven-ish video games away

With Jayson Tatum on the helm, the Celtics had a traditionally dominant season — ending 64-18, with a 37-4 house document, and the sixth highest all-time complete level differential in the course of the common season.

There was by no means any drama, by no means any finger-pointing on the podium. Certain, they dropped a few video games they shouldn’t have, however they nearly at all times bounced again, by no means shedding greater than two video games in a row.

The group by no means handled any controversies. No distracting off-court tales. And the sweetness of their collective was that it by no means was only one participant — and that began with Jayson Tatum.

He quietly put collectively a masterful season, however comfortably deferred to others reasonably than chasing his personal accolades or level totals. On the similar time, he has a monitor document of stepping up and being “the man” when wanted, whether or not that’s his 51-point Recreation 7 vs. Philadelphia within the semi-finals final 12 months, or his 46-point Recreation 6 towards the Bucks in an elimination sport on the street in 2022. If an enormous night time is required for him to get a Finals win, he’ll extra seemingly than not step as much as the problem.

A few 40-point performances would have seemingly altered the narrative round Jayson Tatum’s “quiet” postseason, however high-scoring outputs have been by no means the objective.

Banner 18 is.

And Jayson Tatum — and the 2024 Boston Celtics — are just a few weeks away from the top prize. When it’s all mentioned and finished, not one of the narratives will matter.