Jayson Tatum’s Legendary Performance Forces Game 7

By / May 14, 2022

Let’s just get one thing straight off the rip: Jayson Tatum is HIM. In what was easily the best game of his NBA career to date, Tatum took over when the Celtics needed him most. Season on the line. On the road in Milwaukee. Backs against the wall versus the defending champs. Tatum delivered, leading Boston to a 108-95 victory of the Milwaukee Bucks. As a result, the Boston Celtics will have a Game 7 on their homecourt.

Every legend has those iconic playoff games. Those moments and games that stand the test of time and help define their careers. Not saying that Tatum is a legend already. Nor am I saying this will be the defining game of his playoff career. As of now though, Tatum is on a legendary path, and this is by far his most memorable playoff performance to date.

Dropping 46 points in a situation such as this is as legendary as it gets. Especially when the guy across from you is Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 44 points of his own while also grabbing 20 rebounds. With Giannis going off like he did, it made it almost a necessity for Tatum to take over the game like he did. Had he not, Boston’s season could have very well ended.

It wasn’t just that Tatum scored 46 either. It’s the manner in which he did it. He shot the ball fairly efficiently, shooting 53% from the floor on 32 shot attempts. His 17 field goals made marked a postseason career high for Tatum. Maybe more impressively, Tatum hit 7 threes, and shot a respectable 47% from three.

This was the game we’ve been waiting for out of Tatum. He’s had some spectacular showings and is a proven star already. Yet this was what we all needed to see. To confirm what many theorized: Tatum isn’t just a star, but one of the top guys in the league. In the conversation with the likes of Giannis, as one of the faces of the league.

Tatum’s heroics extends Boston’s season, at the very least for one more game. Tatum has a chance to do it again on Sunday. Boston will need his best again, because that’s what they’ll be getting from Giannis and the Bucks. The defending champs won’t go down silently, that’s for certain. It will take Boston’s best efforts to close this series out and advance to the Conference Finals.

If Tatum is anywhere near as magical as he was tonight, Boston’s got a pretty good shot at coming out on top. Game 7 has the makings of an instant classic, one that will assuredly have all of Boston on the edge of their seats.

Featured photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

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