The scenario circled the host’s close-ended question, “Who do you think is the best player in the NBA right now?”. “Myself,” the 6ft 8″ youngster replied while displaying immense faith in his ability and development. The blend of self-belief and promptness caught Andrews by surprise as she asked the 5x All-Star about the secret to his rising “confidence”.

“I got a lot of respect for a lot of guys in the league. Giannis [Antetokounmpo],  for sure. [Nikola] Jokic, obviously just won. [Joel] Embiid, the guys that won MVPs and the list goes on as the league is in a great place. I truly do believe every night I step on the floor, I’m the best player,” the Missouri-born stated.

The paramount shift in mindset since the defeat in the Finals excited the journalist as she asked for the intricate details. Tatum promptly agreed to the notion as he credited the heartbreaking moment as a major turning point in his career.

“I’m a big believer in everything happens for a reason and maybe I needed to go through that for something. Haven’t figured that out yet but it happened and I have grown from it. I have learned from it. In a weird way, I’m thankful for it. As tough as it was, as much as it hurt, I’m thankful that I went through that and I think that has made me a better person and player,” the 2017 draft pick mentioned.

The episode captured how his complex emotions after the setback dictated his unwavering confidence. A major defeat at a career-defining stage for the first and only time in his 7-year-long NBA journey raised question marks around him. The franchise’s inability to hold on to a 2-1 lead before succumbing to a 2-4 loss resulted in doubts over his ability. Yet, the 2023 All-Star Game MVP has seemingly made peace with the occasion while adopting a positive outlook for the future.

The biggest defeat fueled the competitive edge of Jayson Tatum

The 25-year-old has established his status as an NBA sensation since entering the league in 2017. After making the 2018 All-Rookie First Team, his development underwent a gradual upward curve. The situation suddenly changed following the humiliating 2022 NBA Finals defeat to the Golden State Warriors.

The Celtics forward hence began the previous campaign with a mission in his mind. His rapid exponential growth shocked the league as the youngster averaged career-high digits in points per game (30.1), rebounds per game (8.8), and assists per game (4.6). The endeavors paid dividends as the organization reached the conference finals before falling short due to fine margins.

“Honor to meet you.”

Jayson Tatum got to meet Larry Bird for the first time! pic.twitter.com/iZ0xcMa9pd

— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2024

Interestingly, this campaign has been an extension of the last one as Tatum currently averages 27.1 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game, and 4.8 assists per game. Emerging as the face of the franchise, the 6ft 8″ forward has already entered the top 5 rankings of the MVP race. Therefore, his confidence remains justified as the Celtics star has been able to comfortably back it up with numbers.

The post Jayson Tatum Describes ‘Weird’ Emotion Towards 2022 Finals, Makes ‘Best Player in the NBA’ Claim With Malika Andrews appeared first on The SportsRush.

Jayson Tatum recently sat down with the media for a press conference during this All-Star Weekend. That is when the Boston Celtics forward gave an interesting insight into what he would do if he ever became the commissioner.

“If you get a tech for overreacting to a call that was deemed incorrect, you should get your money back.”

“If you get a tech for overreacting to a call that was deemed incorrect, you should get your money back.”

Jayson Tatum on one rule he’d add if he was the commissioner. pic.twitter.com/rb9FmvOPCl

— Jerry Donatien (@JerryDonatien) February 17, 2024

Playing a high-octane game with momentum riding on every play on the court, players are bound to get emotional over certain calls. While the call may be right, some players tend to jaw at officials nonetheless.

But Jayson Tatum came up with an insightful solution if the call made by the official on the court is deemed incorrect. According to Tatum, if the initial call is found to be incorrect or is revised after a replay or a coach’s challenge, the technical foul handed to a player should be taken back as well.

The league charges $2000 for the first five technical fouls handed to players in the league. If the players exceed more than five technical fouls in the season, they will have to pay $3000 for each foul up to their 10th tech. After their 10th technical foul of the season, every tech holds a $4000 penalty and every tech after number 16 has a $5000 penalty that the player has to pay, along with a one-game suspension as well.

So, when Tatum brought up this point, it certainly did make a lot of sense. If the call is overturned then the technical handed to players for contesting the call should be rescinded as well.  Let’s see if the NBPA or the National Basketball Players’ Association does consider it this offseason and makes a case for it to the league.

Jayson Tatum gives an insightful solution to unfair techs

The officials in the league handing out technical fouls with such ease has been an issue both players and fans have been upset with. So, apart from Jayson Tatum, other NBA stars were also asked to give their views on this.

When asked Kawhi Leonard about one rule he could change in the league, this is what The Klaw had to say.

“What type of questions are these? … What do people usually say?”

“Kawhi what’s one rule in the NBA you would change?”

Kawhi Leonard: “What type of questions are these? … What do people usually say?”

“Add a 4-point line.”

Nah, I’m not saying that. Fundamentals are already outta the game.”

(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/aqFn89AKbW

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 17, 2024

Even Devin Booker had a hilarious interaction when asked about one rule he could change in the NBA. 

Someone actually asked Devin Booker if back to backs affects lebron legacy. pic.twitter.com/9DMLPF6UIE

— ML Basketball (@_MLBasketball) February 18, 2024

The NBPA has been quite active in the offseason, making changes and bringing up issues that have been affecting players in the league. It would be interesting to see if the Players Association does end up making a case for revising handed-out technical fouls if the call is overturned.

The post Wanting To Save $2000 More Often, Jayson Tatum Proposes A New Rule For Technical Fouls Granted If He Were NBA Commissioner appeared first on The SportsRush.

Facts of the matter

The narrative surrounding the situation is a false one as Brown has never had a 77-point game in his career.  Interestingly, this chronicle arose from last month’s clash against the Dallas Mavericks as the 6ft 6″ guard humiliated Luka Doncic. While attempting to penetrate the paint, the handles of the 2016 draft pick put the contested Slovenian star on the floor.

This possession paved the way for an entertaining moment as NBA Memes posted it from X (formerly Twitter). With the caption, “Where were you when Jaylen Brown dropped 77 vs the Mavs?” it captured the prowess of the versatile NBA star.

Where were you when Jaylen Brown dropped 77 vs the Mavs?pic.twitter.com/jmEUrSehNQ

— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) January 23, 2024

Therefore, the digit 77 signified the Mavs star’s jersey number, rather than Brown’s points in that match. After all, the Celtics guard registered a comparatively lower 34 points in the encounter. His career-best scoring record in a single NBA game to this day remains 50 points.

Reasons for the Hoax

The buzz around the narrative gained momentum as it occurred following Joel Embiid‘s 70-point game against the San Antonio Spurs. The excitement of the night aided the 3x All-Star as the followers aimed to capitalize on the added attention. One such supporter posted, “Jaylen Brown heard Embiid dropped 70 so he dropped 77,” to reignite the notion.

Jaylen Brown heard Embiid dropped 70 so he dropped 77 https://t.co/IW7B4G7RLt

— Sr. (@MookSrBurner) January 23, 2024

Despite the story being entirely false, this number has been associated with the NBA star on quite a few occasions. Three weeks ago, the Celtics made the headlines after scoring 77 first-half points against the Miami Heat. Last season, Brown combined with his teammate Jayson Tatum to score 77 points together against the Houston Rockets. Another such feat happened during the 2022 Western Conference finals as Marcus Smart joined the Celtics duo to register an equal amount of points against the Golden State Warriors.

Thus, the recent narrative surrounding the Celtics star came across as little to no surprise for seasoned NBA supporters. Yet, it led to several believing and exaggerating his achievement without understanding the underlying context behind it. However, the hoax can now be buried in the ground as Brown sets his sights on a bigger goal.

The post FACT CHECK: Did Jaylen Brown Have a 77 Point Game? appeared first on The SportsRush.

JT had his first signature shoe come out with the Jordan brand last season. Since then, the Tatum 1’s have seen numerous colorways hit the market and now the Tatum 2’s will be coming out next month.

Being a signed athlete with Jordan, Paolo Banchero has been rocking JT 1s for a long time. Recently, the Orlando Magic star was seen wearing the JT 2 while taking down the Knicks in his last matchup.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Orlando Magic (@orlandomagic)

After the game, Orlando Magic shared Paolo Banchero’s stat line against the Knicks on their official Instagram account. JT uploaded the post on his IG Stories and captioned it, “@paolo5 Damn P send me them kicks.”

Jayson Tatum asks Paolo Banchero for his own JT2 shoes pic.twitter.com/iVkqUmbc3g

— tragicpatek (@tragicpatek) February 15, 2024

The JT 2 will hit the shelf on March 5, 2024. The Tatum 2 will most probably be priced at $125 retail as they come out next month. 

My dawg right here https://t.co/k099NGsAuU

— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) December 18, 2023

Paolo Banchero and Jayson Tatum both are signed with the Jordan brand. Both players are All-Stars and have shared a great relationship both on and off the court, despite being on different teams. Banchero once revealed how the Celtics star helped him improve his game after he got drafted into the league. Both players are Duke alumni and their relationship goes back to their college days.

Jayson Tatum asks Banchero for his own signature shoe

Paolo Banchero was the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2022 NBA draft. Right after making it in the league, one of the first decisions Banchero had to make was to choose which brand to sign with for his signature shoe. 

Banchero signed with the Jordan brand back in October 2022 and has yet to have a signature shoe of his hit the market. After his decision to sign with Jordan, Paolo was asked to give his reasons why he chose that brand over Adidas and Puma.

“It was a pretty easy decision once I really sat down and looked at it. I got family ties to Jordan and just the quality of the brand, I feel like is top of the line for sure.”

Paolo Banchero even went on to credit both Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson in his decision-making to sign with the brand. All three players have graduated from Duke and are now signed with Jordan.

So far, all three players seem happy with their decision to sign with MJ’s brand and create a legacy of their own. Let’s see if Banchero does send a pair to Tatum before the release of the Tatum 2.

The post Despite The $125 JT2s Being His Own, Jayson Tatum Hilariously Asks Paolo Banchero To Send Him A Colorway Even He Doesn’t Own appeared first on The SportsRush.

Celtics’ record through 54 games

2023-24: 42-12
2007-08: 42-12

— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 14, 2024

The key to their success has been superstar forward Jayson Tatum‘s impeccable form. The 25-year-old is averaging 27.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists this season. He’s been the most critical player on offense for the Celtics, leading the team in scoring in 30 games. He played 40 of the Celtics’ first 43 games this year and was the leading scorer 20 times.

However, over the last 11 games, Tatum has cemented his position as the first option on offense for the Celtics. He’s led them in scoring ten of 11 games, and they have won nine games. Tatum is averaging 28.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in that span and has entered the MVP conversation. Former Los Angeles Lakers star Nick Young has advocated for the Celtics star to win the award on X(formerly called Twitter) writing,

“JASON TATUM (sic) the light skin mamba is this [year’s] MVP I never seen someone get so disrespected in my life how do yall keep putting the joker (Nikola Jokic) and all these other [people] over him.”

JASON TATUM the light skin mamba is this yr MVP I never seen someone get so disrespected in my life how do yall keep putting the joker and all these other ppl over him

— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) February 14, 2024

If Tatum and the Celtics continue their impressive form until the end of the regular season, it’ll be hard to argue against him winning the MVP award. However, he’s undoubtedly more focused on winning the NBA title than adding individual accolades to his resume.

How close are the 2024 Boston Celtics to 2008?

The 2024 Celtics are keeping pace with the 2008 Celtics, who won the franchise’s last NBA title. Like the 2024 Celtics, they started the year 42-12 but went 24-3 the rest of the way to finish 66-16. The 2024 Celtics will have their work cut out to emulate that feat.

The 2024 Celtics are a better team offensively. They have three players averaging over 20 points per game, with Tatum leading the way with 27.3. Paul Pierce was the 2008 Celtics’ leading scorer, averaging 19.6 points per game. However, it’s worth noting that they attempted only 19.1 three-pointers per game, while the 2024 Celtics are averaging a jaw-dropping 42.6 attempts from beyond the arc. Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis, the 2024 Celtics’ top-three scorer, combine for 19.3 three-point attempts per game, more than the 2008 Celtics roster.

The title-winning Celtics roster were defensive behemoths. They held opponents to only 89.9 points per game, the joint-lowest in the league, tied with the Detroit Pistons. The 2008 Celtics’ defensive rating of 98.9 is the third-best since the 2005-06 season, trailing only the 2011-12 Celtics (98.2) and the 2011-12 Chicago Bulls (98.3).

The 2024 Celtics have a defensive rating of 111.9, which ranks third in the league this season. They have a top-three defense and the league’s best offense. The 2008 Celtics had the best defense but their offense ranked only 10th in the league. The current roster is statistically superior to the franchise’s last title-winning roster. However, it remains to be seen if they can emulate them and bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to Boston after 16 years.

The post Celtics Insider Draws Similarity to 2008 Championship Season, Highlights Jayson Tatum’s Dominant Stretch appeared first on The SportsRush.

With under eight minutes left in the third quarter, the Celtics brought up the ball on offense. As Derrick White tried to get the ball to Brown, he ended up getting tangled with Duncan Robinson. Robinson’s hand was visibly stuck and Brown decided to yank it to get himself free.

The officials who saw the whole ordeal called a technical foul on Jaylen Brown and within a few seconds, Robinson rushed to charge the Celtics star. Players from both teams stepped in to hold back both Brown and Robinson from escalating the situation.

WATCH: Jaylen Brown gets technical foul, things get tense between the Celtics and Heat down in Miami pic.twitter.com/PGXc41kYVE

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) February 11, 2024

The ordeal started with Jaylen Brown yanking Duncan Robinson’s arm and saying, “What the f*ck is your problem?”

Robinson immediately got up and walked toward Brown as he said, “Don’t do that sh*t, f*ck out of here.”

Brown was visibly upset as he chatted up the referee while going up the floor. Robinson was following Brown and the official kept stating that it was a foul. A frustrated JB then went on to say, “Get out of my face,” followed by, “What are you gonna do about it?”

In the end, Robinson just flat out said, “You’re not like that,” to Brown.

LEAKED Audio Of Jaylen Brown Trash Talking Duncan Robinson:

Brown: “What the f*ck is your problem?”

Robinson: “Don’t do that sh*t, f*ck out of here”

Then, Brown had enough and said: “What are you gonna do about it?”

Robinson replies with: “You’re not like that” pic.twitter.com/CSROs2zR0k

— LegendZ (@legendz_nba) February 13, 2024

This altercation between Jaylen Brown and Duncan Robinson only adds fuel to the fire between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat. These two teams have butted heads against one another numerous times in the past to form a rivalry of sorts.

As for this game, the Celtics had the last laugh as they defeated the Heat who played without their leading scorer, Jimmy Butler. Jaylen Brown finished the game with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists.

The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum who almost had a triple-double, scoring 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists for the game. Boston also got a huge help from Kristaps Porzingis who had 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists for the game.

Jaylen Brown’s altercation with Duncan Robinson

The animosity between Jaylen Brown and Duncan Robinson did not end with the final buzzer. After the game, Brown sat down with the media and answered a few questions about his scuffle with Robinson.

Brown claimed that Duncan Robinson did not want to play defense and that was the reason why he resorted to such tactics. He also added that Robinson still hung on even after the officials called the foul and he was just trying to get his arm free.

“There was no issue for me. I think he knew exactly what he was trying to do. Trying to get tangled up, etc., because he didn’t want to play defense. They called the foul, but he was still trying to hang on, so I was trying to get my arm free.”

Jaylen Brown weighs in on his scuffle with Duncan Robinson and the flagrant foul pic.twitter.com/EmyFUFthuF

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) February 11, 2024

Duncan Robinson on the other hand had an entirely different narrative to how things went down between the two. Robinson labeled Brown’s move on the court as ‘dirty’ and claimed it was, “Dangerous, unnecessary and excessive.”

JB ended up getting a flagrant foul over his actions. But according to what he said was true, did Robinson get tangled on purpose and then go on to flop to get Brown in foul trouble?

That’s for you to speculate and decide. But this tension between the two teams would result in another epic series in the playoffs if the Boston Celtics do end up meeting the Miami Heat in the postseason.

The post “Don’t Do That Sh*t, F**k Out Of Here”: Jaylen Brown And Duncan Robinson’s Tussle Has Its Audio Leaked appeared first on The SportsRush.

The Boston Celtics defeated a Jimmy Butler-less Miami Heat 106-110 at Kaseya Center. While doing commentary for the contest during the live broadcast, JJ Redick and Richard Jefferson talked about Tatum’s shooting stats this season. Redick pointed out how the Boston Celtics are almost unbeatable when Jayson Tatum is draining pull-up jumpers from beyond the arc.

He then went on to say, “You look at the high-volume jump shooters in the NBA over the last two seasons, Jayson Tatum has been one of the worst. One of the most inconsistent.” Redick simply wanted to say that shooting jumpers from the deep has been a weakness for Tatum in recent times. Therefore, if he starts making those shots, then it’s virtually impossible to beat the Celtics.

Richard Jefferson, on the other hand, agreed with Redick and further explained how the Celtics have such a deep roster that if someone like Tatum starts going off from the threes, they are legitimately a Championship team.

After Jefferson’s take, Redick had to clarify on national television that he was not hating on Jayson Tatum but instead, just stating facts, “Fellas, to be clear, I’m not hating on Jayson Tatum. This is factual data.” Jefferson immediately pounced on this opportunity to troll his colleague while he was putting up a disclaimer so that he doesn’t get hate from Tatum fans on Twitter. RJ responded with, “I took it as hating on Jayson Tatum but I’m glad you clarified for the people at home.”

JJ Redick stating facts on Jayson Tatum’s shooting on national TV pic.twitter.com/Nn4Emkmtl8

— Oh no he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) February 11, 2024

While Redick’s take may have upset a few fans, he did make a factual point regarding the Celtics All-Star. Jayson Tatum is one of the best small forwards in the league and his scoring ability is by no means underwhelming. However, he is definitely not amongst the best pull-up shooters in the league.

As per the official website of the NBA, Jayson Tatum is ranked in the sixth position in pull-up shooting percentages. The 25-year-old is shooting 33.6% from deep when pulling up off the dribble. But when you look at his field goal percentage, Tatum’s 36% does rank him in the bottom half, which is not expected of an All-Star.

The Boston Celtics are looking good

The Boston Celtics currently are the number one team in the Eastern Conference as well as in the league. The team has a 41-12 record and is on a four-game winning streak after defeating the Miami Heat.

As for the game, Jayson Tatum almost finished the game with a triple-double. He had 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. Tatum also got a huge boost from Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis who poured in 20 & 25 points respectively in the Heat matchup.

The Boston Celtics are proving to be one of the hottest contenders for an NBA championship this season. The offseason trades have really boosted the team’s performance and also their chances of winning a championship.

The post “I Took It As Hating on Jayson Tatum”: Richard Jefferson ‘Calls Out’ JJ Redick’s Take on the Jordan Athlete’s Shooting appeared first on The SportsRush.

Recently, Doncic made an appearance on The Old Man and the Three podcast with JJ Redick, where the two went on to talk about various aspects of his game and some of the things Doncic is looking to achieve.

While on the podcast, Redick brought up the stat of Luka being at the third spot for most 35-point games before turning 25. The two players ahead of him were Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James.

When asked if he’d like to chase LeBron James’ total points, which is 157 points shy from the 40,000 landmark, the 6’7 point guard displayed no interest in that. In fact, the Mavericks star had some other plans for his career and what he’d like to do after he hangs his sneakers for good.

“I’m not playing that long, no chance. I’m going to have my own farm in Slovenia.”

Redick went on to ask what a perfect career looked like to Doncic. The cornerstone of the Mavericks franchise described the things he wanted out of his career going forward.

“Championships, that’s it…I mean, obviously, I’d like one(MVP). Who wouldn’t like MVP?”

Doncic did express his desire to win multiple championships but the bare minimum for the 24-year-old was winning one MVP award and one NBA championship ahead in his career.

Coming back to Luka Doncic displaying no desire to chase LeBron James’ point total, this wasn’t the first time the five-time All-Star had addressed this question. Even then, the international star had somewhat of a similar answer as he did on Redick’s podcast.

Despite his statement, Doncic’s style of play on the court would make anyone think that he may also be a stat-sheet stuffer, looking to etch his name in as many NBA records as possible. However, that’s not Doncic’s end goal.

The Dallas Mavericks star point guard is now looking to bring at least another title to the franchise while also hoping to win an MVP award while doing so. Doncic will be turning 25 later this month and given his career’s trajectory, an MVP and a championship ring may come to him sooner than anyone would think.

Does Luka Doncic’s resume match up with LeBron James?

Luka Doncic did express his desire to win an MVP award as well as an NBA championship when asked what a perfect career looks like to him. Now whether the Mavericks go on to win it all this season is anybody’s guess. Meanwhile, let’s have a look at this year’s MVP ladder and how likely is Doncic to win at least one of his desired accomplishments.

As per last week’s update, Doncic was ranked in the sixth spot for the race to this year’s MVP.

“MVP” chants raining down at Barclays Center towards the end of Nets-Mavericks for Luka Doncic pic.twitter.com/ev4pduGICw

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 7, 2024

However, an injury to Joel Embiid and Doncic’s antics on the court have now landed him in fourth place, one spot ahead of Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum. Doncic recently had a career-high 73-point performance last month that boosted his ratings quite a bit. If he continues to perform the way he has, then this very well could be the year that Luka wins his coveted MVP award.

After Joel Embiid underwent a left meniscus procedure Tuesday, here are the updated NBA MVP probabilities, per @bball_ref.

Nikola Jokic: 51.1%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 21.0%
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 12.4%
Luka Doncic: 5.3%
Jayson Tatum: 2.5% pic.twitter.com/h5F9cJ8EaI

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 6, 2024

Looking at the Dallas Mavericks’ roster this year, the team has another star along with Doncic in Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks squad even ended up landing some great talent through this year’s NBA draft. And a few recent trades have made the Mavericks a lucrative choice in the West.

However, the team currently has a 29-23 overall record so far and is barely hanging on to the eighth spot in the Western Conference. So, to predict if the Mavericks can win it all this year may be too early to tell. But it would be interesting to see where Doncic leads Dallas this season after missing out on the playoffs last year.

The post “Not Playing That Long No Chance”: Not Wanting To Chase LeBron James’ Near 40000 Point Milestone, Luka Doncic Talks About His ‘Perfect Career’ appeared first on The SportsRush.

Post-game, Porzingis jokingly threw shade at former teammate Kyle Kuzma, who was forced to play center and guard the Celtics star due to injuries to Marvin Bagley III and Richaun Holmes. When asked about matching up against the Wizards star, Porzingis said,

“I don’t think he realized last year what I was doing for them. All the tricks, all the drawing of fouls, a little bit of grab here and there.”

To Kuzma’s credit, he did not take offense to Porzingis’ jibe and laughed the comment off on X, formerly called Twitter.

“lmaoooo”

.@kporzee lmaoooo

— kuz (@kylekuzma) February 10, 2024

While they are no longer teammates, Kuzma and Porzingis still have a good rapport. However, their friendship did not stop the Celtics center from exploiting the mismatch. He attacked the rim throughout the game and used his size advantage to draw fouls. He was a perfect 14-of-14 from the free throw line and shot 50% from beyond the arc in a stunning offensive display against his former team.

While Kuzma tried his best, the size disparity was too much for the forward to overcome.

Kristaps Porzingis’ massive impact on Celtics

The Celtics landed Kristaps Porzingis in the 2023 offseason to upgrade their center position, which has paid massive dividends. The former Wizards star is averaging 20.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists, providing a sizeable uptick in production from the position than Al Horford and Robert Williams did last season.

Porzingis’ addition hasn’t affected the Celtics’ defensive rating, but their offensive rating has improved from 118 to a league-best 121.1. They are five wins better off this year than at the same point last season and boast the best record in the NBA. Last week, Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum spoke highly of Porzingis in an interview and even compared him to one of Kobe Bryant‘s greatest teammates. He said,

“Kobe really needed Pau [Gasol] for those last two championships that they won together. Whatever path that I’m on and we’re on, KP really feels like the missing piece.”

“Kobe really needed Pau for those last two championships that they won together. Whatever path that I’m on and we’re on, KP really feels like the missing piece.”

– Jayson Tatum on teaming up with Kristaps Porzingis

(Via https://t.co/4h0yXYL6uT) pic.twitter.com/lUmEmQ33dI

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 1, 2024

The Celtics have made it to the Eastern Conference Finals five times in the last seven seasons. However, they’ve made it to the NBA Finals only once, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors. Tatum and the Celtics believe Porzingis can get them over the hump and help them win that elusive 18th NBA title.

The post Kristaps Porzingis’ Post-Game Comment Draws Kyle Kuzma’s Reaction as Celtics Edge Wizards 133–129 appeared first on The SportsRush.

As it turns out, Tatum has been listed as ‘questionable’ for tonight’s game, per the Celtics’ February 9 report. The 25-year-old’s inclusion to the roster will be a game-time decision due to a non-COVID-related illness.

Celtics Injury Report vs. Washington tomorrow:

Jayson Tatum – Illness (Non-Covid) – QUESTIONABLE

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 8, 2024

However, things do not seem to be that concerning, as Tatum was crucial in the Celt’s last win over the Hawks on Wednesday. The star forward score 20 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the contest. It is predicted that Tatum might be getting 30 minutes of playtime and has a 82% chance of being on the floor for Boston on Friday night.

Status Change For Jayson Tatum (Tomorrow’s Game)

‘Questionable for Friday’

New Minutes Prediction = 30 (Old = 36)
Playing Prediction = 82%#jaysontatum #dfs

— nba dfs player predictions (@NBAPredicted) February 8, 2024

Nevertheless, the Wizards should not seem like a formidable opponent to the Celtics even without Tatum. Without Tatum, players like Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, Oshae Brissett, and new acquisition Jared Springer might take up most of the minutes on the floor. On the other hand, Jrue Holiday might also be available for the game as he is no longer listed in the injury report for his right elbow sprain after missing the Hawks game.

How has Jayson Tatum been playing this season?

Going up against a 9-41 Washington Wizards team wouldn’t make much of a difference if Jayson Tatum were to skip this one. This season, the Celtics superstar is averaging 26.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, with a 47.1% field goal percentage. Tatum has been quite a crucial piece for the Celtics, which is evident from his plus-minus rating of +355 this season.

In the last game against the Atlanta Hawks, Tatum posted 20 points, 7 assists, and 9 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a blowout 125-117 win. It is worth noting that Tatum’s role in the Celtics roster transcends way beyond his statistical contributions. His versatility, scoring ability, defensive prowess, and leadership qualities have defined his role within the team and shaped the Celtics’ new strategy going forward in the league.

The post Is Jayson Tatum Playing Tonight Against the Wizards? Feb 9th Availability Update on Celtics Star As He Battles His Illness appeared first on The SportsRush.