Jayson Tatum reminded the world of the prowess the Boston Celtics were famously known for when he dropped 54 points on the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
The back-and-forth affair pitted Kevin Durant against Jayson Tatum on a shootout that saw Tatum with the upper hand and his second 50-point game this season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCHXTQbxJ3E
Tatum’s 16 of 30 field goal attempts in the 126-120 win over the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden Arena were nothing short of magnificent. Tatum went 8-for-15 from 3-point range to score the second-most points of his career.
It’s a 3 man race between Ja, Luka and Trae on who is going to be the next face of the NBA! Btw Tatum slowly creeping into that conversation as well!!! Carry the hell on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 4, 2022
Tatum’s Way
The effortless shooting spree was an efficient 53.3 percent from the field and long range.
“This is what I dreamed about as a kid, and I waited my whole life to get to,” Tatum said after the game. “Obviously I have a long way to go, a long way to what I’m trying to accomplish, but staying in the moment and just enjoying it. Having fun doing what I love everyday.”
Jayson Tatum is over FIFTY points and the Garden is ROCKING https://t.co/D8lmTU4udv
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 6, 2022
The stellar performance ties Tatum with Celtics legend Larry Bird for scoring performances of at least 50 points in franchise history. The two are now tied at four games.
However, Tatum shows the progressive nature of today’s game as he accomplished this just days after his 24th birthday a few days ago. Other Celtics legends don’t even compare.
Tatum “Jumpman” Over Celtic Legends
Larry Bird didn’t have his fourth 50-point game until almost 33 years old. It was also his 11th season in the NBA, while Tatum currently is in his fifth season.
Jayson Tatum is giving me them Paul Pierce vibes lately the way he’s protecting his house when other ELITE players come into the Garden!!! The Celtics are LEGIT. He gave them people a 50 piece spicy! All Flats. Carry the hell on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 6, 2022
“Jayson Tatum is giving me them Paul Pierce vibes lately the way he’s protecting his house when other ELITE players come into the Garden!!! The Celtics are LEGIT. He gave them people a 50 piece spicy! All Flats. Carry the hell on,” said Kendrick Perkins on Twitter.
However, Big Perk is only half right, as Paul Pierce only had one 50 point game his entire career. But there is one thing both Pierce and Bird have that Tatum doesn’t: a championship ring.
Jayson Tatum today:
54 points
5 rebounds
16/30 FG
8/15 3PTSUPERSTAR pic.twitter.com/RE8MOlLQMB
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 6, 2022
The Boston Way
The Celtics currently round out the top five of the Eastern Conference, and for a good reason. Against the Nets, all five starters brought in double-digit scores. Jaylen Brown dropped 21 points on the Nets and is the only other player to have a 50-point game this season.
Brown’s 50-piece back on Jan. 2 helped yield the Celtics’ 116-111 win over the Orlando Magic.
Still, their phenomenal scoring shows that the Celtics are a force to be reckoned with as Tatum shut down a high-profile team at home in statement-winning fashion.
Jayson Tatum tried quieting Celtics fans while they taunted Kyrie Irving: pic.twitter.com/cXivaJuPUf
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 6, 2022
The Future Is Now
After LeBron James had a “put some respek on my name” moment, dropping 56 points against the Golden State Warriors just the night before at Crypto.com Arena, Tatum’s performance stands as a testament to the future of the game.
Tatum is working like a supercharged veteran with a more-than-capable team. Although he has yet to reach a championship, Tatum has time. It took LeBron until 2012 and on his second team to win a title after being drafted in 2003.
Tatum is in year 5, on fire as a shooter and scarier than ever.
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