Having watched all of the Celtics superstars perform over the last 60-plus seasons, I tend to be restrained when I compare the rising youngsters. But last night's 60 point explosion by Jayson Tatum in Boston's OT 143-140 win over Gregg Popovich's Spurs was nothing short of spectacular.
Down by as many as 32 points in the second quarter, Tatum simply took over the game and proved to be literally unstoppable. In an article prior to the game, I wrote the following:
:Jayson Tatum-as-offensive coordinator also seems to fit nicely. He is a deadly closer for the Celtics in the final minutes of a tight game, and his passing skills - and willingness to do so - gives him the nod.
My label of Tatum as "offensive coordinator" was certainly restrained. It can no longer be denied. Jayson Tatum is one special player. His 60 points match Larry Bird's output on March 12, 1985 versus the Hawks, and here are the stats from both superstars - yes, that is my current label for Tatum:
Tatum: 60 points - 54% FG - 71% 3s - 88% FT - 8 R - 5 A
Bird: 60 points - 61% FG - 25% 3s = 94% FT - 7 R - 3 A
I had previously written about a casual Tatum-Brown comparison to the Bird-McHale pairing and made this comment about Jayson's efficiency in scoring his previous-high of 53 points:
Jayson's points were extremely efficient. He shot 64% on field goals - 60% from beyond the arc - and 94% (15-of-16) on foul shots
This kid is special. Larry Bird is absolutely adored in Boston circles, and I will not go as far as prophesying future Larry-like fame for Jayson, But Tatum has shown flashes of greatness since he stepped onto the parquet, and he is a worker at his trade - getting better every season. He will be the foundation of Celtics teams going forward, and Jayson may be heading to top-5 in the League and possibly serious MVP consideration in the next few years.
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