When an NBA playoff series comes down to a Game 7, it often comes down to superstar players performing above their usual levels and almost single-handedly elevating their team above the mere sum of its parts.
That is exactly what Jayson Tatum did on Sunday.
He scored 51 points, the most anyone has ever scored in a Game 7 in league history, and as a result, the Boston Celtics were able to easily put away the Philadelphia 76ers, 112-88.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had some praise for Tatum and his mindset, as well as how well he reads defensive coverages, afterward.
"A guy that doesn't get too high or too low… the person he is, is a reflection of how he plays."
Joe Mazzulla on Jayson Tatum pic.twitter.com/7GG6xtcWxv
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 14, 2023
Tatum has faced criticism for not playing at a high level in big playoff games and not consistently playing up to his standards.
That criticism hit a crescendo after his team’s loss in last year’s NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors when he shot just 36.7 percent from the field for the series.
But his performance on Sunday will help turn around that narrative.
Thanks to Tatum, the Celtics are now headed to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will face the Miami Heat for the third time in the last four seasons.
The Heat possess Jimmy Butler, arguably the NBA’s deadliest player in crunch time, and Tatum will need to match him offensively, especially in fourth quarters.
But taking down the Heat will be a team effort, and the Celtics’ defense, which was outstanding in the past two games versus Philly, will need to be on point in the next series if they are to return to the championship series.
NEXT: Marcus Smart Comments On Celtics Game 7 Win
