They’re each proficient gamers, however can they win collectively?
They contend yearly, however can they recover from the hump?
They get alongside, however are they really mates?
These questions appeared on loop over the previous seven years. A few of it was simply fodder from of us who had no thought, whereas a few of it was really unknown.
Final season, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown answered all these questions with a powerful and triumphant, Mike Gorman-level “YES!” Collectively, they fueled the Celtics to their first championship since 2008. Collectively, they silenced the doubters. Collectively, they delivered on the promise they made to themselves.
“This summer time, my coronary heart wasn’t damaged,” Brown informed reporters Tuesday at Media Day.
Now, they’re again to attempt to do it yet again, with the identical supporting forged that helped vault them excessive. With the strain of delivering a title to Boston lastly eliminated, and an unprecedented stage of self-assuredness and zen for each, we may even see one of the best variations of Tatum and Brown this 12 months.
Whereas they’re already two of the league’s premier gamers, each can definitely enhance. Each appeared freer and lighter (possibly it was simply Jaylen’s lack of his signature bushy beard) at Media Day. They appeared like two guys who reached the mountaintop, took a collective exhale and are able to run it again.
“It was by no means about making an attempt to simply win one,” Tatum informed reporters. “ … All the fellows I appeared as much as rising up gained no less than one championship. Now it’s only a dialog of how nice are you making an attempt to be?”
From the second they arrived in Boston, Tatum and Brown had been below a microscope like few others in skilled sports activities. It’s completely different with the Celtics. This isn’t the Charlotte Hornets. Once you arrive in Boston, there’s rapid strain to win a championship – particularly as back-to-back No. 3 picks.
At first, they had been getting their bearings, and other people understood that. As soon as they emerged as perennial contenders, everybody anticipated them to complete the job. Even after sturdy and profitable seasons, individuals criticized them for not doing sufficient.
They improved, stayed level-headed and stayed hungry, however carrying round that burden of looking for banner 18 needed to weigh on them closely. It simply needed to. Once you meet Invoice Russell, Larry Hen, Paul Pierce, and so forth, it’s inevitable that you simply’d really feel a way of inferiority.
What is going to it take to hitch these guys? What if good isn’t ok? What if it by no means occurs?
Tatum and Brown deserve an immense quantity of credit score for staying the course and trusting the work. Brad Stevens deserves an immense quantity of credit score for constructing off the muse Danny Ainge began. Joe Mazzulla, the workers and the remainder of the gamers deserve the identical for bringing out one of the best in Tatum and Brown.
Now, that cinder block is now not resting squarely on their shoulders. There’s no questioning what-if anymore. Brown and Tatum can play freely, with no inhibitions and with considerably much less strain. After all they need one other one, however nobody can ever take this one away.
For Tatum, enjoying freely might imply changing into a extra constant shooter, avoiding these 6-for-19 video games and persevering with to showcase his underrated passing skill. He’s at his greatest when he’s flirting with a triple-double – a menace to shoot, a menace to drive and a menace to cross.
Tatum understands he’s not a completed product, which works a great distance for a participant of his caliber.
“As completed as I’m, I simply at all times really feel like, total, I can nonetheless get higher,” Tatum informed NBC Sports activities Boston. “You haven’t seen one of the best model of Jayson Tatum. I’m solely 26. I ought to proceed to maintain getting higher.”
For Brown, much less strain might imply taking his already-elite protection to the subsequent stage, sharpening that left hand much more and attending to the free-throw line frequently. Brown is aware of what it’s wish to be doubted and questioned. Now, all he has to do is present his Finals MVP trophy.
“I’m glad nothing was handed to me,” Brown informed reporters. “I used to be the third choose and I needed to earn every part on this group. That’s not at all times the case.”
Count on to see Brown and Tatum smile extra, trip the rollercoaster much less and fear concerning the huge image much less usually. They acquired what they needed, and now it’s time to get one other. They’ll be prepared, and so they could also be extra harmful than ever earlier than.
