Jayson Tatum remains the unquestioned leader of the Boston Celtics, a title that often puts him squarely in the spotlight when the team struggles. On Saturday night, Tatum silenced critics with a commanding performance, leading his team to a crucial 115-93 win over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the NBA conference semifinals.
Tatum faced sharp criticism following the first two games of the series, where the Celtics squandered double-digit leads in both contests at home. At Madison Square Garden, however, Tatum stepped up, delivering a solid stat line with 22 points on 8-of-20 shooting, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
Despite the criticism, Tatum embraced the expectations that come with being the face of the franchise. Speaking at the postgame press conference, he offered a thoughtful perspective on handling pressure and scrutiny.
“You just understand what comes with being that guy. I live a great life, I ain’t going to lie. I make a lot of money, I take care of my family, I’ve been able to experience a lot of things, but you also have to accept what comes with that, right?” Tatum explained. “I get a lot of praise. I get a lot of credit. I get a lot of accolades. But I’m not perfect, and there are times where I’ve needed to play better. I’ve needed to do more. And that comes with being that guy”.
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in action against the New York Knicks during game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Tatum also acknowledged that criticism is an inherent part of the game. “So, just understanding that, and people just don’t criticize me. There’s a lot of people that came before me that they criticized, and there’s going to be people that come after me that they criticize,” Tatum continued. “For me, it’s just a sense of joy that I play with”.
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“Coming into a game with an angry face and mad at the world, that’s not who I am. It’s not when I play my best,” he added. “So I always say you’ve got to be the same person if things are going great and when things aren’t going great. You can’t switch up. That’s the character of a good man”.
Tatum addresses criticism after struggles in first two games
Entering Game 3, Tatum was under scrutiny for his shooting woes in the series’ first two contests, where he hit just 28.6% of his shots from the field and went 5-of-20 from beyond the arc. In Game 3, however, Tatum responded emphatically, connecting on 5-of-9 from deep and showcasing his ability to thrive under pressure.
In the postgame press conference, Tatum reflected on the noise surrounding his performances and his mindset during the playoffs. “I don’t think too much of it. It’s the playoffs; it’s the biggest time of the year,” Tatum said. “There’s gonna be a different narrative essentially after every game…Not riding the emotional roller coaster after a win or after a loss”.
