The 2024 NBA Playoffs have finally arrived for Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics after an arduous 82-game journey. Interestingly, during his appearance on Bloomberg Originals with Aaron Rodriguez, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith discussed his thinking behind selecting the Celtics to win the NBA Finals this year.
Given the league’s state this season, Boston, headed by Jayson Tatum, has the best record in the NBA because of their dominance and consistency. In discussing the issue on “The Deal,” Smith said that the five-time NBA All-Star is on track to add the 18th banner to the Celtics’ illustrious history.
“I’m still going to say the Boston Celtics. I have no reason to feel this way, but it’s Jayson Tatum’s time. I think it’s going to be Boston-Denver. I think Boston is going to win the championship.” Smith said.
Many teams have something to say about this year’s postseason. Given that they will face the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs, Tatum and the Celtics are well aware of how last year’s Eastern Conference Finals transpired.
Jayson Tatum Explained the Mentality of Celtics While Entering Into the Playoffs
Jayson Tatum discussed how he went into this year’s postseason with a fresh mindset after last year’s playoff home record (4-6) went down. According to NBC Sports Boston, he stated that their homecourt advantage must be safeguarded and not be taken for granted.
Any NBA team may undoubtedly benefit from playing at home, but you need to perform to win in the postseason. The Boston Celtics had a 37-4 home record this season, an improvement over their 32-9 record from the previous campaign.
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On April 3, 2024, the Celtics defeated the OKC Thunder by a score of 135-100, securing a decisive homecourt edge. It was also the team’s 60th victory of the year. According to the NBA website, Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in the 74 games he has played this season.
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