Boston Celtics: Time to put respect on Jayson Tatum’s name

Jayson Tatum continued ballin’ it out in the playoffs leading the Boston Celtics to a Game 2 128-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Watch out NBA, there is a rising super star on the prowl and his name is Jayson Tatum.  The Boston Celtics young All-Star followed up a 32-point performance in Game 1 of the NBA first round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers with a 33-point performance in Game 2.

Unstoppable was the word of the night as Tatum went absolutely hot from beyond the three-point stripe to spark a 14-point first-quarter deficit into a 128-101 victory that has Joel Embiid and the 76ers shaking their head and looking for some sort of answer for the Celtics talent.

So, while Luka Doncic is receiving all the hype amongst young players, people better start putting some respect on Jayson Tatum’s name.

Philadelphia certainly has that respect after the Duke product when 8-for-12 from 3-point range, including this bank shot from just inside the NBA logo that told the story on how the night was going to go for Tatum, who is doing in the playoffs what he did during that stretch in February when he first put the league on notice.

In averaging 32.5 points per game in the 2020 NBA playoffs thus far, Jayson Tatum certainly has the respect of his teammates, especially Kemba Walker who is having no problem playing second fiddle to the rising star.

"“We expect it now, for sure,” Walker said following the game, via Celtics.com.  “He’s a superstar.  He’s a superstar.  He’s been showing it night-in and night-out.  He just makes the right reads, man.  He’s a special talent.”"

A special talent who has been doing it on both ends of the court.  Defense, rebounding or simply finding the right man off the dribble, Jayson Tatum is a complete talent who is just getting better.  As he proved Wednesday night, when his shot is falling, he is just an unstoppable force of nature that has his current playoff opponents shaking their heads.

The Boston Celtics star also has those hesitant to recognize him as higher than a tier 3 player eating their words.

Yeah, we are referring to you Nick Wright.

Time to start respecting Jayson Tatum

Actually, the time to start respecting Jayson Tatum was when the Boston Celtics young stud was named to his first NBA All-Star game.

This man is just 22 years of age and has already been to an Eastern Conference Finals and has more playoff experience in his rookie year than Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson has combined.  So, why isn’t Jayson Tatum getting the respect from everyone?

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Is the reluctance based on him playing for a Boston team?

Who truly knows when it comes to the “First Things First” co-host, but even Nick Wright has to admit the rise of Jayson Tatum into a superstar, although it may take the Boston Celtics winning a title to completely win him over.

But it really isn’t about proving a critic like Wright wrong, it’s about a young talent turning into a grown man right before our eyes.  With Gordon Hayward out and Kemba Walker still finding his footing, Tatum is taking the Boston Celtics on his shoulders and showing extreme leadership in doing so.

Along with Jaylen Brown, what Jayson Tatum is showing is maturity based on experience.  They have been here many times already in their young careers.  Often times, it is that experience that breaks the barriers of youth.

So, as the Philadelphia 76ers look for an answer for the Celtics star, it may not be a question of whether they can find an answer, it might be that they just don’t have an answer.

Superstars do that don’t they?  It’s time to start putting some respect on Jayson Tatum’s name and its actually overdo.