The Boston Celtics secured their spot in the 2024 NBA Finals after sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite their impressive performance, critics continue to question the contributions of Jayson Tatum and the Celtics, suggesting that their path to the finals was too easy.
As they gear up to face the formidable duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith has addressed the criticism aimed at Jayson Tatum. Rather than attacking the critics, Smith suggested that Tatum’s performance has warranted some of the scrutiny.
Smith addressed the notion that Tatum hasn’t received enough credit, arguing that critics are simply pointing out the obvious that Tatum hasn’t consistently closed out games.
“Somebody called me about him [Tatum] the other day talking about, ‘When is he gonna get enough credit? Why people being so critical of him?’ I said, ‘Stop. They ain’t being critical of him. They’re pointing out the obvious. He hasn’t closed,” Smith said.
Throughout the Celtics’ journey to the finals, Tatum played a pivotal role, putting up impressive numbers of 30.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game during the 4-0 series win against the Pacers. However, he was overshadowed in the race for Eastern Conference Finals MVP. The honor ultimately went to his teammate Jaylen Brown, who averaged 29.8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game.
Jayson Tatum Embraces Second Chance in NBA Finals Pursuit
Jayson Tatum finds himself on the brink of the NBA Finals for the second time in his career. After falling short in 2022 against the Golden State Warriors, Tatum are determined to claim victory this time around.
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During a recent press conference, Tatum reflected on the upcoming Finals as a second chance for himself and the team. He shared the importance of learning from past experiences and approaching the series with a renewed determination to succeed.
“You don’t always get a second chance, so really just looking at it as a second chance. It’s another series that we gotta win,” he said.
The Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks’ NBA Finale is scheduled for June 6.
Also Read: The 2013 Trade That Gave Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s Legacy.
