Jayson Tatum knows his game has reached a new level in his fifth NBA season, rising to the elite of the league as the Celtics’ leading scorer.
But the three-time All-Star knows that at times he hasn’t been at his best against the Golden State Warriors and he must find a way if he hopes to help Boston win its 18th title.
It doesn’t care about reflectors or the weight that comes with them.
“I just have to get better,” Tatum said after Golden State’s 107-97 win in Game 4 on Friday night tied the series. “I know I can be better, it’s not like my team asks me for something I’m not capable of. They know the level and I know the level I can reach.”
The Celtics had the opportunity to take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and plunge the Warriors into a hole that only one team has been able to climb out of in 36 attempts: the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers, who reacted when they trailed 3-1 to beat Golden State in seven games.
Boston collectively cooled off in the fourth quarter as the Warriors’ Stephen Curry capped what may have been his finest hour in front of a stunned crowd at TD Garden.
Tatum tried, but couldn’t match Curry’s dominance.
He finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. It was his second-worst scoring performance ever, and he didn’t take care of the ball: He was responsible for six of Boston’s 16 turnovers that allowed the Warriors 19 points.
He hardly featured in the fourth quarter, scoring just three points on one of five shots and one delivery. The Celtics led 94-90 when they missed all six of their shots during a 10-0 Warriors drive.
Boston never regained the lead.
