Jayson Tatum? He doesn't that killer instinct that allows most superstars to close out games.
The Celtics? They can't hang with the better teams in the NBA, particularly when it comes to performing when it counts.
Those were the narratives. Fortunately for Brad Stevens and Co., Tuesday night in Portland they were nothing but myths.
Tatum put the Celtics on his back, punctuating his 32-point performance thanks to a step-back three-pointer with 8.5 seconds left. The shot sealed what would be the C's fourth win a row, a 116-115 win over the 31-23 Blazers.
“We're trending in the right direction,” Tatum said after the game. He's right.
Coming off a win over the Nuggets in which the Celtics held Denver to just eight fourth-quarter points, Boston did enough down the stretch once again to seal the deal in Portland.
Particularly Tatum.
The Celtics' go-to guy, who said after the win that he still dealing with some of the impact of contracting COVID-19, is flat-out helping save the C's season.
This time Tatum scored 25 of his points in the second half, including 17 in the third quarter.
But it wasn't just Tatum that supplied the optimism for the Celtics.
The other members of this team's core group of players continued to show signs of life, with Jaylen Brown going for 24 points and Kemba Walker showing one of his better all-around games, finishing with 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Robert Williams also chipped in with 16 points and seven rebounds.
And, to top it off, Marcus Smart (13 points, 7 assists) did some good Marcus Smart things.
“I don’t think its brain surgery. We’ve got guys that have now played a little bit together, are getting in a rhythm together," Stevens said. "It’s more about a mindset of getting downhill and making the right play for yourself or your teammate. When Smart, Jaylen, Jayson, Kemba are all out there, of course we’re gonna look a little different.”
At 29-26, the Celtics have moved up to the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference, just one game in back of No. 4 Atlanta.