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Boston Celtics: Top Rookies Clash against Mavericks

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 30: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at TD Garden on October 30, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 30: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at TD Garden on October 30, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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Jayson Tatum and Dennis Smith Jr. will represent a great rookie clash as the Boston Celtics go for their 16th straight win

The Boston Celtics are looking to extend their historic streak against the Dallas Mavericks, and this could be one of their easier games so far. They have played a lot of close games, against good and bad teams, so we know that cannot take any team for granted.

This showdown will also feature one of the more intriguing rookie match ups in the NBA. Jayson Tatum and Dennis Smith Jr. are both playing phenomenally, and could have a major impact on this game. Ben Simmons could run away with it, but both of these guys could have a chance if he slows down at some point.

Smith is one of the most important players on the Mavericks, and he will have to be a part of a special game if the Mavericks want a chance, and he has been the most exciting player for them this season. Hes already a top offensive option, with 14.5 points per game and 4.5 assists per game.

On top of that, Smith Jr. is already one of the mos electrifying athletes in the NBA. It will be tough for him to get through the Celtics’ interior, but he already has a reputation of destroying the rim. Check out what he was doing in college.

Smith Jr. is proving the few teams that passed on him wrong, but the Celtics are one of the only teams that have absolutely no regrets with their pick. Tatum may not have the kind of dunks that Smith Jr. Jr does, but he has been doing everything else phenomenally.

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Tatum does not have the assists, and his scoring is slightly behind with 13.9 points per game. That being said, he is one of the most efficient players in the league, and has been an elite defender. Tatum knows how to attack matchups with his length when he drives to the paint, and he has been hitting everything beyond the arc, with a three point percentage of 47.9.

Tatum may lack aggressiveness sometimes, but he never takes a bad shot, and has been one of the most important players during this run for the Celtics. He is fearless in the clutch, and he has quickly transformed the perception of his ability as a defender.

Tatum is playing at such a high level that it is a lot more difficult to expect him to sustain what he has been doing this season. That being said, if he keeps this up, there is no doubt that Tatum will come out on top this season.

For this matchup, however, Smith Jr. is in a better position to have a bigger impact on the game. He is also in a position where he is more likely to have a bad game. The Celtics have the best defense in the league, and they have plenty of options to match up on him.

Next: The Curious Case of Marcus Smart

It would be fun to see Tatum get a chance to slow him down, and it would be interesting to see how his length could hold up against such a great athlete. Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown should have no problem is they are tasked with guarding that athleticism. They have both proven that they can handle some of the best athletes in the NBA, and have proven themselves against much more difficult assignments than Smith Jr.

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