Jayson Tatum dealt with plenty of adversity against the Magic in the first round, including a wrist injury that forced him to miss Game 2. The Celtics All-Star has played through a painful bone bruise in his wrist for the past three games. However, beyond some tape on the wrist, there were no signs of the injury slowing Tatum as he erupted for 35 or more points for three straight games.
Tatum’s best work came in Game 5 as he scored an efficient 35 points and dished out a game-high 10 assists to key a 120-89 blowout win over Orlando. Against a Magic defense that challenged Boston’s usual offensive style and forced them to adapt, Tatum was entirely unfazed by the need to adjust. Instead, it was evident that title experience from last year was paying great dividends as he navigated this year’s playoff waters.
“I said this season was the most relaxed and carefree that I’ve been in my career,” Tatum said. “Understanding that we won last year and we accomplished the ultimate goal and you kind of got that monkey off your back.
“So obviously the goal is still the same this year to win and compete for a championship, but I’ve just enjoyed this season of playing carefree basketball and not having that hang over my head. It’s been fun to do and just a sense of freedom. I’ve just carried the season with that.”
That new mentality that translated into one of the best all-around seasons of Tatum’s career, taking some of the onus off after coming up short in the playoffs in 2022 and 2023.
“It just kind of allows me to focus on the task ahead,” Tatum said. “I’m not worried about trying to prove anybody wrong or anything like that. Just understanding I know what I’m capable of, I know what we’re when we play a certain way. We’ve shown that. So it’s all about getting to that level.”
Tatum’s teammates have appreciated seeing the forward reach a new level of play that proved critical in ending the series quickly against Orlando.
“Very impressive,” Al Horford said. “The things that impressed me most about him is that time and time again when it’s time to finish off a series and get a dub, he goes to another level. Tonight it was impressive to see him. We get to a certain point and he knows what to do and kind of takes over. So that was pretty special to see him making play after play, whether it was him shooting it, him passing it, on the defensive end, all over the place. So pretty impressive the way he closed it for us.”
Tatum and the Celtics will get at least a few days of rest before their path continues in the second round against the Knicks or Pistons next week.
“It was probably exactly what we needed,” Tatum said of the series. “A good test (for the) first round. A couple guys really banged up and dealing with some things, but showing that mental toughness of getting up and getting ready for each game and doing whatever it takes, whatever the game calls for and figuring out a way to win. That’s all that matters this time of the year. As a group, we’ve been through it all and we showed it and proved it this series. Looking forward to the next one.”
