BOSTON – In the wake of a crushing loss in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd put the spotlight back on the Boston Celtics by stoking a years-long debate surrounding star forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Tatum, 26, is Boston’s most decorated and celebrated player: The five-time All-Star has been selected to the All-NBA First Team the past three years and finished sixth in this year’s MVP voting. But Brown, 27, a three-time All-Star, has arguably had a more impressive postseason, earning Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors before scoring a team-high 22 points in the Boston’s 107-89 victory in Thursday’s Finals. can opener.
While Tatum has consistently posted better statistics in recent years, Brown’s more assertive style and vocal leadership have sparked debates on television, radio and social media about whether he is the true leader and best talent in Boston. Kidd jumped headlong into the conversation at Saturday’s practice ahead of Sunday’s Game 2, casting a dissenting vote in favor of Brown at the expense of Tatum, who had 16 points (on 6-of-16 shooting), 11 rebounds and five assists during a relatively quiet season. Game 1.
“Well, Jaylen is their best player,” Kidd said. “Defensively, he defended Luka (Doncic) all over the court. He got to the free throw line. He did it all and that’s what your best player does. He plays on both sides, defense and offense, at a high pace, and he has been doing it throughout the playoffs.”
Kidd’s statement, which took a room full of reporters by surprise, diverted attention from the Mavericks’ problems in Game 1 and became the main talking point during Boston’s media availability. The Celtics’ chemistry was a major asset on both sides during Game 1, and Tatum described Kidd’s praise of Brown as an attempt to disrupt their union.
“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have (Brown) on our team, and we can say that about a lot of guys,” Tatum said. “We have all contributed to getting to where we are and we understand that people try to drive a wedge between us. I guess it’s a smart thing to do or try to do. We’ve been in this position for many years of guys trying to split us up and say one of us should be traded or one is better than the other. “It’s not our first time at the rodeo.”
Tatum and Brown, who were drafted No. 3 overall, have faced questions throughout their seven seasons together about whether they are an ideal match. Their shortcomings in past postseasons, including the 2022 Finals against the Golden State Warriors and the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat, have also sparked trade rumors and speculation about a possible breakup.
This year, Boston has relied less on Tatum after adding Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in offseason trades. Tatum’s scoring, field goal attempts and usage rate all fell in 2023-24 as he gave up opportunities to Boston’s newcomers. However, the Celtics won more games, posted a greater point differential, and posted a better offensive efficiency rating than at any other time in Tatum’s career.
During this playoff run, Tatum scored 25.3 points per game, his lowest postseason average since his sophomore season in 2018-19, and is shooting just 29.9 percent on 3-pointers, the worst mark of his career. in postseason. However, Boston is 13-2 in the playoffs and is three wins away from its first championship since 2008.
“We’ve been extremely focused on what our roles and jobs are,” said Brown, who is averaging 24.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists during the playoffs. “We have all had to sacrifice. Jayson has had to do that at the highest levels, I respect that and I’m glad for that. Right now, at this point, it’s whatever it takes to win, and we can’t let any outside interpretation try to come between us.”
Boston edged Dallas in Game 1 despite a poor scoring game from Tatum, who didn’t attempt a shot in the first eight minutes, committed six turnovers and faced much more defensive attention than Brown. During his postgame comments, Tatum said he had been “nervous in an anxious way, like a little kid,” about returning to the Finals after Boston fell short in 2023.
With Porzingis back from a calf injury and an offensive system that consistently generates open 3-pointers for a lineup full of quality perimeter shooters, the favored Celtics don’t need Tatum to match Doncic shot for shot to win this series. Tatum, to his credit, has largely avoided his worst habits (stopping the ball and settling for tough two-point shots) while hitting the glass and playing high-energy defense.
Dallas has won Game 2 in its previous three series, including bounce-back victories after Game 1 losses to the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder. But the Mavericks will need more than Kidd’s mental games to even the Finals: His ball movement stalled badly in Game 1, leaving Doncic as the only reliable source of offense.
Kyrie Irving needs to be more composed than he was Thursday, when he scored 12 points on 19 shots, and Kidd said Doncic needs to do a better job reading Boston’s defense, which is designed to limit Dallas’ 3-point attempts and lob passes in the corners. edge.
“Boston is going to give Luka the layup, so he has to take advantage of it,” Kidd said. “They are not going to give him the lob nor are they going to give him the corner three. So we’re two on two (in the paint) and we have to take advantage of that.”
As Doncic tries to find ways to unlock Boston’s defense, all eyes will be on how Tatum responds to Kidd’s tactics. The Celtics blew a 2-1 series lead in the 2022 Finals and fell to a 3-0 deficit before losing the 2023 Eastern Finals, earning a reputation for mental fragility and ineffective play late in the game.
After going an impressive 21-12 in games that were within five points in the final five minutes during the regular season, Boston is 4-0 in those games during the playoffs. And when the Mavericks seemed on the verge of erasing the Celtics’ 29-point lead in Game 1, Brown scored a 14-0 run late in the third quarter that squashed any chance of a collapse.
To fully bury their ghosts of years past, the Celtics must continue to prove that they are older, wiser and more resistant to collapse.
“As long as we focus on the truth, the things we talk about every day and the relationships we build with each other, they can see it however they want,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said in response to Kidd’s comments. “What happens in our locker room, how we communicate with each other, how we build relationships with each other and how we treat each other on and off the court, that’s the most important thing.”
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