Jayson Tatum pushed all the correct buttons within the Celtics’ win over the Timberwolves

When you have a good friend who by some means nonetheless questions Jayson Tatum’s greatness, the primary logical plan of action is to dump them as a good friend, as a result of clearly they’ll’t be trusted.

If that doesn’t work, remind them that he’s an NBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time All-Star – and sure, he’s nonetheless solely 19 (sorry, 26).

In the event that they’re nonetheless not satisfied, I like to recommend plopping them in entrance of the TV and exhibiting Thursday night time’s Celtics-Timberwolves recreation – or this spotlight if they’ve two minutes, not two hours. Tatum has had extra eye-popping performances, he’s scored extra factors and he’s actually taken over with extra panache.

However this recreation particularly – during which he steered the Celtics to a 118-115 win with 33 factors, 9 assists, 8 rebounds and three steals – epitomized what makes him distinctive.

“Clearly, he made some nice photographs,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla instructed reporters. “However I simply thought his intentionality on the offensive finish was actually good.”

To me, Tatum’s greatest talent is his skill to supply regardless of the recreation wants. That’s what separates the nice gamers from the nice ones. Some guys can get you 33 factors. Others can dish out 9 assists. Many can seize eight rebounds. However to do all three directly is slightly spectacular.

When the Celtics wanted an enormous 3, Tatum was there to supply it. Once they wanted a well timed help, he delivered. Once they wanted a clutch rebound, he devoured it up. With Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis out, much more falls on his shoulders, and he continues to function a stabilizing fixed in an ever-changing lineup.

He additionally helped restrict Anthony Edwards to fifteen factors on 5-of-16 capturing (2 of 9 from 3). Mazzulla mentioned Tatum requested to protect Edwards earlier than tip-off, and he did a wonderful job forcing him proper and making him uncomfortable.

“Simply one other solution to insert your self into the sport and be targeted and locked in,” Tatum instructed reporters, in reference to guarding Edwards.

Mazzulla counseled him for setting the tone.

“I assumed he took on the problem of that,” Mazzulla mentioned. “He was nice tonight.”

His skill to protect 1 via 5 shouldn’t be taken with no consideration, however it typically is.

Tatum is main the Celtics in factors per recreation, rebounds per recreation, assists per recreation and 3-pointers made this season. That’s on a crew with Brown, Porzingis, Jrue Vacation, Derrick White, Al Horford, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser. On a star-studded roster, he persistently stands out.

Listed here are a couple of performs and musings that illuminate his dazzling efficiency:

Massive-time 3 over Rudy Gobert.

Right here’s the scoring. The Celtics pressured the Timberwolves to change extra typically than they’d have favored, and Tatum was typically the beneficiary. Rudy Gobert would not stand a lot of an opportunity.

On the sequence the place he bought a technical (it in all probability shouldn’t have been a tech, however it’s what it’s), he performed via contact and completed. Although it was a foul, and it wasn’t referred to as, he nonetheless made the shot. He probably wouldn’t have performed so a couple of years in the past.

Sure, and he had a number of possibilities to place Minnesota away, however it occurs. With out him, they wouldn’t have been in that place within the first place.

Candy one-handed cross to Neemias Queta.

That is the place Tatum is at his greatest. He dropped 16 factors within the third quarter, so you haven’t any alternative however to respect the 3-ball. The Wolves doubled Tatum, and he rapidly reacted and delivered a one-handed cross on the cash to Neemias Queta for a flush.

That is one other play be might not have made a couple of years in the past. I’m positive the Warriors sequence nonetheless retains him up at night time, even after profitable a hoop, and I’m positive he wouldn’t make the identical errors now that he did then. That’s the great thing about watching a celebrity mature earlier than your eyes.

He additionally had a slick cross to Al Horford, a well-timed lob to Luke Kornet and an over-the-shoulder dime to White. Oh, and he solely had two turnovers.

Then there’s the rebounding.

Tatum is among the most underrated rebounders within the league. Take a look at this stat from Dick Lipe. Very spectacular. He’s with all bigs.

He makes a acutely aware effort to rebound — not all superstars do.

Plus, the protection.

Not all superstars genuinely take pleasure in enjoying protection. Tatum does. He’s the definition of a well-rounded participant, and the Celtics are extraordinarily fortunate to have him.

Nights like this remind you the way far he’s come. The scary half is, he can nonetheless get even higher.