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It's no secret that the Boston Celtics had high expectations coming into this season. After all, the club finished in the second seed in the Eastern Conference with the fourth-best record in the NBA last season. This year, the Celtics expected another season of dominance.
While the team has been good once again, they've definitely had their struggles. But small forward Jayson Tatum isn't worried.
In an interview with Jason Terry, he spoke about the team's true goal down the stretch – making the playoffs.
Here's what Tatum had to say, courtesy of TNT on Twitter:
“We understand it's a long season. It's not going as great as we wanted it to but, you know, we're still going to go to the playoffs and that's what matters. But right now just trying to be as consistent as possible and I think that's, you know, what we need to get better at.”
Despite their relative struggles this season, the Celtics are still in a great position. At 37-23, they are fifth in the competitive Eastern Conference, only a game and a half behind the fourth-seed Philadelphia 76ers.
According to ESPN's BPI Playoff Odds, the team is a near lock to make the postseason. The system gives Boston a greater than 99.9% chance of doing so. They are also given a 6.3% chance of winning it all.
Tatum will be a critical piece for Boston's stretch run. The 20-year-old is in the midst of a fine sophomore season. He is averaging 16.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 45.6%. Selected third overall by the Celtics in the 2017 draft, he has been one of their most valuable players.
On Tuesday night the Celtics are in Toronto to take on the 44-17 second-seed Raptors.
The match-up could serve as a preview of a potential playoff series.
