Jayson Tatum certainly looks like a player any coach would want in their rotation, regardless of the circumstances.
Just ask Alex Sarr.
It dominated Celtics discourse all offseason and will be brought up all season long: Did Steve Kerr light a fire under Tatum by not giving him minutes in the Olympics?
Early indications suggest he sure did.
Despite not playing the fourth quarter in either of Boston’s first two games, Tatum has piled up 62 points on 23-of-38 (60.5%) shooting from the field, 11-of-22 (50%) from downtown, 16 assists, 15 rebounds, and two steals, team-highs across the board. He joined Larry Bird (1987) as the only forward in NBA history to post such point, rebound, and assist totals in NBA history.
Not too shabby.
Equally impressive is Tatum’s continued growth as a playmaker. The 26-year-old is making all the right reads and using his gravity to create opportunities for teammates, further proving he’s more than just a scorer.
“[I wanted to] continue to dominate on the floor in all of the areas that stats show and also the areas that stats don’t show,” Tatum said following his 25-point, 11-rebound, and six-assist performance on Thursday night. “Being the best screener, cutting, creating advantages for my teammates, getting people involved, making plays, rebounding, things like that.”
So far, so good. As a result, the Celtics are off to their best 2-0 start since the 1962-1963 season, outscoring opponents by 43 points.
And it’s not just Tatum who’s making a statement.
Jaylen Brown, who also has a chip on his shoulder from his experience with USA Basketball, celebrated his 28th birthday on Thursday by putting up 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting (50%), along with eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals. Brown has shown off his added muscle from the offseason, playing with more physicality than ever. Through the first two games, he’s racked up 50 points on 44.7% shooting (17-of-38), 53.3% from beyond the arc (8-of-15), 15 rebounds, four assists, and five steals.
It’s clear the Jays are on a mission.
On Thursday night in the nation’s capital, Tatum and Brown combined for 52 points on 19-of-40 shooting (47.5%), along with 19 rebounds, nine assists, and five steals—outscoring the entire Wizards starting lineup, which managed just 51 points.
Although it’s only been two games, there’s already a noticeable sense of relief, as if the weight of winning a championship has been lifted off their shoulders. The Jays are playing with newfound confidence and swagger that’s filtering down to the rest of the team.
It’s a unique situation. While they enjoyed their summers, Tatum and Brown didn’t get fat and happy basking in the championship glow. Motivated by their Olympic snub, they’ve worked on their games and now appear ready to take another step forward in their eighth year together.
The Celtics go as Tatum and Brown go. They set the tone on both ends of the floor, leading by example and embodying the mindset Joe Mazzulla preaches. In the season’s opening week, they’ve established that tone at an elite level.
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