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Jayson Tatum Discusses Historic Game 7 Performance: 'That's When I Play My Best'
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The two best performances of Jayson Tatum's career have come with the Celtics' season on the line.
Last year, he delivered a 46-point masterpiece in Milwaukee to force a winner-take-all matchup with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
Sunday, in front of the home crowd, with the reigning MVP leading the opposition, the four-time All-Star set a Game 7 record with 51 points.
From the beginning, Tatum was aggressive, passing up threes to attack the basket on multiple occasions. He ended the first frame with 11 points on 4/8 shooting, only taking (and missing) one three. In the second quarter, he paced all participants with 14 points. He converted on five of eight field goals, attempting only two from beyond the arc.
But in the third, the two-time All-NBA First Team member caught fire from distance, burying 4/5 threes and putting 17 points on the board.
With Tatum leading the way and Boston's defense suffocating the Sixers, it was in that period that the hosts delivered the knockout blow, outscoring the visitors 33-10.
After the Celtics' 112-88 win, Tatum discussed the difference in his mindset between the last two tilts.
"Going into Game 6, I was too -- it sounds crazy to say I was too locked in. I was too tight. I was too (much) in my own head, thinking about what do I need to do, (and) how many points do I need to score; this is a big moment.
"And today, I was more myself. Yesterday, pregame, I was relaxed, laughing, (and) joking. And that's when I play my best, (is) when I'm having fun. At the end of the day, this is basketball; this is something I've been doing since I was a kid. Something I love to do. And just go out there and relax and have fun."
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Mindset and this team staying true to their authentic self is something this author wrote about before Game 6. When the defending Eastern Conference champions trust they can win with the approach Tatum's speaking about, they're at their best, stay present, and seem to get more enjoyment from the challenge of high-stakes basketball.
And after shooting 1/13 in the first three quarters on Thursday before scoring 16 points in the final frame to propel Boston across the finish line, the former Duke Blue Devil wanted to make sure he capitalized on the opportunity he almost didn't get on Sunday.
"Coming off (of) last game, obviously, finished strong, but not starting off the way I wanted, and especially with our season being on the line last game, I was just excited we had another opportunity today as a team and for myself to bounce back," conveyed Tatum.
"And I was relieved. I was happy about that. To get another chance because our season could've been over (in) Game 6. And just being in another Game 7, being able to come back home in front of our fans, I was really excited, just for the moment, to come out here and play today."
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He made that clear with his play and his interactions with the crowd, engaging with them as he knocked down one three after another, including letting everyone know that this -- TD Garden -- was his house.
Continuing to open up about the added fuel from Game 6, the St. Louis native stated, "It definitely was in my mind that I played as bad as it could get for 42 minutes, 43 minutes, whatever. And we have a saying, 'It's only up from here.'
"And to be honest, they had us on the ropes in Game 6. End of that third, going into the fourth, the game was back and forth, (and) the crowd was into it, and they had us, and we figured out a way to win. That was a great feeling to win that one and come back home and have another opportunity."
But while searching for his rhythm offensively in Game 6, Tatum reinforced he's far from just a scorer. He stayed locked in defensively and finished with nine rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks in the first of Boston's two-straight season-saving victories.
After Game 7, head coach Joe Mazzulla shared that a message he tells Tatum is, "You're not defined by scoring in my book," adding, "When he plays a well-rounded game, our team is different, in my opinion. And credit to him for buying into that."
The All-NBA wing, who finished fourth in MVP voting this season, also addressed his hunger to be the best all-around player possible.
"To be the best player, to be one of the best players, what can I do each and every night on both ends of the floor besides scoring to impact the game and dominate in those ways?
"Dominating is not only about scoring. I try to rebound the best I can. Compete on defense. Get blocks. Get assists. Those things excite my teammates a little bit more than hitting shots because they're used to seeing that. But me diving on the floor, (or) me coming over (from) the weak side to get a block, that sometimes gives us more energy than hitting a step-back three. So, just finding ways to dominate the game other than scoring."
Contributing in other areas helped keep his team close in Game 6; Tatum's scoring finished the job on Thursday and the Sixers on Sunday, sending the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth time in his first six years in the NBA.
Further Reading
Celtics Praise Joe Mazzulla for Game 6 Adjustments That Helped Save Their Season
Celtics Discuss Jayson Tatum Rising to the Occasion, Forcing a Game 7
Celtics Share Their Perspective on Failing to Meet the Moment in Game 5 Loss to Sixers
Joe Mazzulla Explains Why He Didn't Take a Timeout in Celtics' Game 4 Loss to Sixers
Film Room: Recalibrating Celtics' Defense for Game 2 Against Sixers
