It seems to be the perfect time to be a Boston Celtics fan. The Celtics’ season ended last year at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, but instead of the disappointment of coming just short of an NBA Finals berth, Celtics fans entered this offseason with excitement and anticipation of what’s to come.
Of course, losing to a LeBron James led team in a Game 7 on your home floor was a tough pill to swallow, but the way in which they played and the contributions they received from multiple pieces was extraordinary and admirable. It was always going to be an uphill climb for the Celtics to achieve anything special after losing Gordon Hayward for the entire season on opening night against those very same Cavaliers, it then became nearly impossible when Kyrie Irving was ruled out of the playoffs towards the end of the regular season.
Despite how bad the injuries were for the franchise and their star players, it proved to be somewhat of a blessing in disguise as young studs Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum got increased playing time. In doing so their development was accelerated, and their postseason production was uncanny for players at their age without any true playoff experience.
Tatum especially was incredible and he turned into what many believe was the Celtics' main guy during the postseason. The rookie was fantastic as he played with maturity and grace beyond his years.
Now, with the return of Hayward and Irving, Tatum’s amazing performances last season made many people float out the idea of trading either Hayward or Irving, to ensure the youngster continues to develop. His upside is scary good, and with his offseason workouts with none other than Kobe Bryant himself, Tatum’s sophomore campaign promises to be even more special.
Speaking of Tatum's offseason, his social media status has also increased in the summer. Social media is mainly used by players in the season break to show the world the work they are doing in the gym and in the training facilities, but sometimes an old video of a player emerges and goes viral instantly. This time, it happens to be Tatum, who was at the centerpiece of an old footage of him viciously poster slamming an opponent in his earlier years.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmCRhD9jkmw/
Going by the video, it looks like the talented swingman may have been a savage on the court all along and there is no doubt he was already putting fear into opponents' minds even at his young age. With all of the talent and star power the Celtics now possess, healthy and ready to go, you’d be hard pressed to bet against them reaching the NBA finals this time around with Tatum at the heart of it all.
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