(Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics’ biggest obstacle this season wasn’t any single team that they couldn’t overcome.
It was themselves.
For years, this team had been on the verge of doing something special, but they always found ways to crumble under pressure.
Despite being overwhelmingly favored more often than not, this team collapsed late in games or in crucial moments, and that’s why people wanted to see them get the job done before believing in them.
With that in mind, Jayson Tatum claimed that they’re no longer the team they used to be or the team that lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, adding that they’ve grown from that (via CBS Sports).
“We learned from a team at the time that was better than us… We’ve grown from that. We really have.”
– Jayson Tatum on how Celtics have evolved from previous Finals collapse vs. Golden State pic.twitter.com/LAgl36W4oT
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) June 13, 2024
Of course, adding Jrue Holiday to that mix definitely helps, but he’s right on point.
That’s the whole point of growing pains and getting experience early in your career, and that’s why it often takes time before teams and players are ready to take the next step.
The expectations were always high because they’re the Boston Celtics, and that’s also why the fans have often bashed Tatum despite his solid performances.
Tatum finally had a good game in the NBA Finals after two subpar shooting performances, and his detractors might be running out of things to complain about at this point.
Notably, the last three NBA champions — assuming Boston wins — have been built and forged slowly through pain and shortcomings as opposed to just put together overnight, and that should set a precedent for the rest of the league.
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