Jayson Tatum makes NBA history during Celtics' NBA Finals run
The Boston Celtics are on their way to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010 after beating the Miami Heat and the Eastern Conference finals. Celtics were able to finish off the Heat largely thanks to their dynamic duo on the wings in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum finished the series being named the Eastern Conference finals MVP and earning the inaugural Larry Bird Award. But according to Statmuse, the Boston star made some history in the process.
Tatum became the youngest player in NBA history with 400 points, 100 rebounds, 100 assists, and 50 3-point shots made in a single playoff run.
Tatum and the Celtics survived a loaded Eastern Conference to make it to the NBA Finals for the first time since Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen word defeated by the late Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. And that road to the finals was anything but easy.
Boston and Tatum’s road to the finals
Despite the Celtics sweeping Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, that series was decided by 18 points in total. And Boston needed a little ‘Luck of the Irish’ in that series for it to go their way. In the final possession of game one, with the Nets hanging on to a one-point lead, Tatum got loose from Durant, who was ball watching, for a game-winning layup over Kyrie Irving.
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In the second round, Boston came back from a 3-2 series deficit to knock off the defending NBA champs, the Milwaukee Bucks, at home in the TD Garden. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo did all he could but could not overcome the suffocating Celtics defense and the duo of Brown and Tatum without his running mate Khris Middleton.
Against the Miami Heat and Tatum averaged 25 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists a game. This 26-year-old was also money from the right side of the court. From 3 point range Tatum went 14 of 29 from deep from the top of the key right-wing and right corner. On midrange shots, he went four of seven, And from the interior, he was 31 of 54. And that array of scoring ability is why he was honored as the MVP of the Eastern Conference finals.
The former Duke Blue Devils star has experienced a ton of success early in his career, but one thing has eluded him tough, and that is the opportunity to win an NBA title. Now that Tatum is in his first-ever NBA Finals, he has a chance to add to his current record and bring home the Celtics’ 18th NBA title.