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Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum ‘eager’ to run it back with Jaylen Brown

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 21: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics talks to Jaylen Brown #7 against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on February 21, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 21: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics talks to Jaylen Brown #7 against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on February 21, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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There is value in losing NBA championships for young, superstar players in the league.  Not only does it give an emerging top 5 talent like Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum NBA Finals experience but shows him where his areas of growth lay and teaches him what it takes to win.

After falling to the Golden State Warriors in the 2021-22 NBA Finals, we’ve seen a humbled Tatum.  A player who didn’t play his best game on the biggest stage and now there are questions.

Whether those questions entrenched in him internally or communicated through the critics, the narrative moving forward will be whether the Celtics can win a championship led by the duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Boston Celtics are in good hands with the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

Even though the Boston Celtics got to the finals with the duo proving they can co-exist, that question will always be at play until the team hoists Banner 18 with both players at the top of their game.  While the Kevin Durant rumors are still out there Tatum is more than content to run it back with his partner in crime.

In fact, the Celtics young star is confident in the roster and believes in the team’s title chances.  Led by one of the best young duos in the NBA, Tatum feels sustaining that status starts with each player just being the best version of themselves.

"“We just try to stay in the moment,” Tatum told NBC Sports Boston from his young basketball camp.  “It’s not necessarily about what our legacy would look like if we did this, that and the third.  Just trying to be the best versions of ourselves, the best players we can be, and compete at the highest level.”"

Individually, both Tatum and Brown had to do some soul-searching mid-way through the 2021-22 NBA season.  Were they going to give into the noise that they couldn’t play together or were they going to prove to the world they have what it takes as a tandem to both lead a team and make the players around them better.  They decided to take the latter road and they did run through the NBA until the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

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Again, an opportunity lost is a lesson gained and now the challenge is for Tatum and Brown to learn from the strides they made and take it to another level.  They have proven they are the winning formula and now with a deeper supporting cast it’s time to turn it up a notch.

Jayson Tatum is ready.

"“I think we really took those next steps last season,” Tatum continued.  “We’d be the first to tell you that we’ve got more to do, more to accomplish.  And we’re eager to do so.”"

Next. Boston Celtics: The 50 Greatest Players of All Time. dark

While those Durant rumors aren’t necessarily going away, the Boston Celtics find themselves in a situation where they have two, hungry and motivated young stars out to prove critics wrong once again.  This time they want to complete the mission.  As long as they stay motivated, there is no reason to believe they can’t.

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