Boston Celtics: The heat is on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown to respond
As hot as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown started in the first half of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals matchup between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, they were just as bad in the second half as they literally stood by and watched Jimmy Butler lead his to glory.
Just days after the Celtics took down the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in a 7-game battle, the Celtics came out on fire against the Heat on both sides of the ball. Though shorthanded, it looked like Tatum and Brown were on pace to stealing Game 1 and gaining home-court advantage.
But, Butler, Tyler Herro and an underrated supporting cast wasn’t having it as they came out blazing in the second half and the Celtics, they did part in letting that happen.
Boston Celtics needed Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to be more than just stars
Would the second half meltdown been different if Al Horford and Marcus Smart were out there?
Perhaps.
The veteran presence of Horford would’ve calmed the team down and the tenacity, bulldog nature of Smart would’ve matched that of Jimmy Butler, but it comes down to the two stars. The two leaders of the team to show they can be the answer when the team needs them, not part of the disaster as they were during the Heat’s 22-2 run to start the second half.
It was mostly on Tatum who had 6 turnovers in that third quarter and displayed body language that Celtics fans are familiar with. It was sloppy and while Tatum has kicked his way into the club of the elite, he must respond in this series and respond big to stay in that club and he knows it.
"“I think obviously I don’t want to turn the damn ball over and [expletive] like that,” Tatum said after the game, via MassLive.com. “But I guess throughout the course of a game, things happen, and they go on runs. That’s what they did. Throughout the course of the playoffs, we’ve done a great job of responding to runs after calling timeout, things like that. But for whatever reason we didn’t today. I’ll be the first one to say I’ll take the blame for that. I’ve got to lead better. I’ve got to play better, especially in those moments. I’m just looking forward to responding next game.”"
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With those words, Tatum is saying everything he should say as a superstar and a leader who doesn’t like losing. He is taking the blame, but the true response will be on the court in Game 2 and he shouldn’t have to score 50 for the team to win. It’s his overall game that will get the job done. If his shot is not falling early, can he turn up his defensive intensity, can he turn into a playmaker on the court? Most of all, can he stop worrying about the officials and drawing calls?
While Smart and Horford are expected to be back (and that will be big), Tatum needs his sidekick in Jaylen Brown to also turn it up. The Heat shifted the energy in Game 1, Brown needs to help his team shift it back in Game 2. If Tatum struggles, Brown needs to be there to pick him up and he also knows it.
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"“I’ve got to be better,” Brown said postgame. “We’ve got to be better, be more poised in that situation. We’ll go look at the film and we’ll come back.”"
The heat is on and Game 2 will be another test for the Celtics dynamic duo to prove they can lead a team past the Eastern Conference Finals. It’s time for them to punch back and show when they are both on, the Boston Celtics are basically unstoppable.