Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum entered Game 7 against the Miami Heat with only one thing in mind: win. Sure enough, that focus and immense desire fueled him and the rest of the team as they booked their ticket to the NBA Finals.
Speaking to reporters after the thrilling 100-96 win over the Heat, Tatum shared what his mentality was entering the contest. According to the Celtics star, he had himself prepared to leave everything on the court and go all-out just to win. He didn't care if it's a dominant victory or an ugly and close encounter. As long as he is on the winning side once the final buzzer sounded, that's what was important to him.
“I came in with the mindset today that I was willing to do whatever it takes to win this game. No matter how it looked,” Tatum shared, per NBA insider Keith Smith.
That mentality was certainly evident during Sunday's showdown. Jayson Tatum was aggressive throughout whether he was making shots or not, allowing him to finish with a team-high 26 points on top of 10 rebounds and six dimes. He shot 9-of-21 from the field and made his presence known on the defensive end with one steal and two blocks.
Tatum also bagged the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy, which speaks volumes on the massive impact he had in the game.
The Celtics will be facing the Golden State Warriors next, this time with higher stakes in the NBA Finals. But if Tatum can play as confidently as he did in Game 7, it's not hard to see them proving the NBA Finals odds wrong.
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