Jayson Tatum's maturity shines in Celtics' Game 1 win

The Mavericks lead the playoffs with 775 rebounds, compared to Boston's 659. They also top the playoffs in offensive rebounds with 203, far surpassing Boston's 149, according to StatMuse. Recognizing this, Tatum focused on rebounding rather than scoring, similar to Michael Porter Jr.'s role for the Denver Nuggets in last year's finals. 

Leading the Celtics with 11 rebounds, Tatum limited one of the Maverick's strengths. 

Tatum's adaptability has been key to Boston's success in the 2023-24 playoffs. The Celtics are 3-0 when Tatum scores under 20 points, with significant victories over Miami and Cleveland. Their average margin of victory in these games is 25.7 points.

Tatum's willingness to adjust his role based on the team's needs, rather than just focusing on scoring, demonstrates his maturity. By occupying the opponent's primary defender, he creates opportunities for teammates like Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis, who combined for 57 points in Game 1, to exploit mismatches.

Tatum's performance against the Mavericks showed his understanding of winning dynamics. Should he persist in this approach — allowing the game to unfold naturally, avoiding forced shots and acknowledging that he doesn't always need to be the focal point but can trust teammates to excel — the Celtics' prospects for the finals appear exceedingly bright.