2023-11-23 12:20:00
By dominating the Bucks last night, the Celtics consolidated their position as leader of the Eastern Conference. The Boston collective once once more responded with seven players with at least ten points, proof of the current good health of the Greens. A great dynamic that the C’s owe in particular to Jayson Tatum.
We all know that Jayson Tatum is one of the best players in the world, having had an MVP-caliber start to the season. But we know less regarding Jayson Tatum the leader, he who is not really the type to bring everyone together during a time-out to give a big speech. However, that’s what he did last October before the very first regular game.
In a long paperESPN, insider Tim Bontemps talks regarding how Tatum brought his teammates together (without the coaches) to lay a good foundation for the upcoming season. And not just any teammates: Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford. Only guys who are used to having minutes and being starters.
“There are six of us, and only five of us can play at the same time,” Tatum told his friends. “One of us won’t always finish games. Whether it’s fair or not, me and JB (Jaylen Brown, editor’s note) will always start and finish matches. But we must be held to a different standard and accept to be coached differently. Whether it’s KP (Porzingis) or Al (Horford), one of you might not finish games, and you have to be OK with that.”
After the arrivals of Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in the offseason, Jayson Tatum felt it necessary to emphasize the notion of sacrifice. The Celtics probably have the best Top-6 in the League, but it can only operate at full capacity if all six are on the same wavelength. We’ve seen super-talented teams explode in mid-air because players stepped on each other. Tatum also experienced it with Boston during the 2018-19 season, and it may have played a role in his initiative.
“I really think it was an important moment for us”
– Kristaps Porzingis pour ESPN
One month following the resumption of the NBA season, the Boston Celtics now have the best record in the League with 12 wins and only 3 losses. The C’s are sixth in offensive efficiency, second in defensive efficiency, and first in net rating. Boston’s major five – made up of Tatum, Brown, Holiday, White and Porzingis – destroys everything in its path (123.8 in offensive efficiency, 96.8 in defense in 191 minutes together!). To summarize: all the lights are green in Boston.
New ESPN story: The Celtics had 6 starters for 5 spots to start this season — which made for some potential awkwardness. Then Jayson Tatum called a meeting.
“I wanted us to get in the room and talk regarding it.”
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) November 22, 2023
Behind this unstoppable major five, Al Horford is the one who took the role of replacement, with the professionalism that we know from him. It was in particular out of respect for the veteran pivot that Tatum organized this “players-only meeting”, knowing that Horford had a good chance of being relegated to the bench with the addition of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. This only increased Al’s admiration for JT.
“It’s good to see him grow as a leader, step by step. He doesn’t have to be the guy who talks all the time, but you feel his presence. I feel like he’s guiding us more and more as a leader.”
-Al Horford
Increasingly a leader, Jayson Tatum seems ready to do anything to maximize Boston’s chances of finally going to the end. JT has experienced almost everything since his arrival at the Celtics in 2017: ups, downs, disappointments in the Playoffs, great individual and collective moments, and participation in the NBA Finals. On the other hand, he has not yet experienced the joy of winning an NBA title.
This season arguably represents the best opportunity for him and the Celtics, so it’s best not to waste it.
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Source texte : ESPN
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