Despite holding a 2-1 series lead in the 2022 NBA Finals just over one week ago, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics saw their championship hopes disappear on Thursday night, as the Golden State Warriors celebrated inside the TD Garden for their fourth title in eight years. When the Celtics took down the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, Tatum was named the series MVP, but the 24-year-old floundered at times against the Dubs.
After averaging 25.0 points and 8.3 rebounds with a 46.2% field goal percentage and 86.0% free throw percentage over the seven-game set against Miami, the former Duke star's numbers dropped to 21.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 36.7% from the field and 65.6% against Golden State. On Friday morning, talking heads from the FS1 program "First Things First" debated whether Tatum should be considered a superstar.
"Obviously Jayson Tatum is OUT of Club Superstar. Anybody who watches basketball knows there was one superstar on the floor last night and his name was Steph Curry."
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) June 17, 2022
— @kevinwildes pic.twitter.com/HeQ1Dvix2X
"I'm not kicking Jayson Tatum out of Club Superstar."
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) June 17, 2022
— @getnickwright explains pic.twitter.com/ZLTSwggfy1
On ESPN's "Get Up," former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins was outspoken on the three-time All-Star as well.
"What happened with Jayson Tatum is what he did to Kevin Durant in the first-round: he got punked. Andrew Wiggins snatched his soul in this series"@KendrickPerkins on Tatum's performance in a close out game. pic.twitter.com/lyl5udeXE4
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) June 17, 2022
Tatum finished the Game 6 loss with just 13 points on six-for-18 shooting, and had five turnovers as well.
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