The reigning champion Boston Celtics remain a top team in the NBA. Two months into the season, they are 22-8 and own the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. After a successful campaign last season, they are in a good position to have another great run and potentially repeat as champions. However, the Celtics, who have lost each of their last two games to the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, are in a slump. They have lost three of their last four games and are 6-4 in their last 10. Furthermore, they have rarely looked like the same dominant team from last season in this stretch. Despite their slump, Celtics star Jayson Tatum says the team is “not panicking” and “will” be better.
“We’ve got to be better,” Jayson Tatum said. “It’s still a long season. Nobody’s panicking. We’ve got to navigate the emotional roller coaster of the NBA season. It feels a lot worse than it actually is. We’re not panicking or anything. We’ve just got to man up and look in the mirror and figure out some things that we’ve got to do better at. Everybody’s fully capable, and we’ve always done a really good job of responding, and I have no doubt that we will. So I’m not panicking, but we’ve got to be better, and we will.”
Jayson Tatum Eases Boston Celtics Fans With Comments Amidst Slump
Jayson Tatum Remains an MVP Candidate
Despite the team’s recent cold streak, Tatum has continued to look like an MVP candidate. On the year, he is averaging 29 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.1 steals. Furthermore, he is shooting 46.6% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. Tatum has also scored more than 30 points in each of his last three games, including a 43-point performance in a win against the Chicago Bulls.
When the team needs him, the 26-year-old has stepped up. Even beyond the box score, Tatum is playing great basketball. He remains a top facilitator on the team and plays exceptional defense. Despite finishing sixth or better in MVP voting in each of the last three seasons, Tatum has yet to take home the award. There is a lot of competition for the award this season, but Tatum is certainly making a legitimate case for himself. If he wins the MVP award this season, he will become the first Celtic to do so since Larry Bird did it in 1986.
The Last Word
There is no denying that the Celtics are cold right now. They have lost multiple games they should have won and look inconsistent on both sides of the court. There is also legitimate concern about their hustle and effort. However, they still remain a legitimate contender in the NBA. It is a long season, and there are plenty of ups and downs teams will go through over the year. This is not different for Boston, who had multiple cold streaks last season as well. If they continue to play like this into April, then Celtics fans can be concerned. However, as it stands, it is just one slump. If there is any team who can overcome it, it is the Celtics.
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