How Good Does Jayson Tatum Need To Be For Celtics To Win Championship?
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If there's one thing the Boston Celtics have proved this season, it's that they didn't need Jayson Tatum to be an elite team. They went 41-21 without him while posting one of the best offensive, defensive and net ratings in the league.
The regular season is one thing; however, the playoffs are quite another.
The Celtics have struggled against elite teams like the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs this season, going 2-8 against them specifically. Several of those losses were close, however, suggesting Boston was only one good player away.
That's where Tatum comes in. Arguably a top-five player when healthy, he has the potential to elevate the Celtics and get them over the hump in the postseason.
He proved that by helping lead Boston to a title two years ago. Not surprisingly, the Celtics were eliminated last spring after losing him to an Achilles injury.
Tatum's back now, but not fully 100 percent the superstar he was before getting hurt. He's struggled with his shot and is on a minutes restriction, limiting his overall impact.
That said, he's still a positive contributor with his scoring, passing, rebounding and defense, helping Boston go 2-0 in his first two games back.
With road games against the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder this week, the Celtics are about to find out if they can beat a championship-caliber team with this version of Tatum. They entered the week with the second-best championship odds at DraftKings Sportsbook behind the Thunder, so this week will be a big test for them.
If they win one or both games, they'll be in great shape. If not, they can only wait and hope Tatum improves and looks more like himself by the time the playoffs start next month.