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Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum Needs Big Season

By Hank Shafer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 05: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 5, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Celtics won 117-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 05: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 5, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Celtics won 117-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics have a nice roster for next season, but if they have any shot at winning a title Jayson Tatum must ascend to stardom.

After the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Russell Westbrook to the Rockets, it is fair to say that all the major dominos have fallen in regards to NBA free agency. The rosters for most of the teams (including the Boston Celtics) are essentially set and will look like what they look like now when the season begins.

Come October, the starting lineup for the Celtics will probably look something like this:

Kemba Walker
Jaylen Brown
Gordon Hayward
Jayson Tatum
Enes Kanter

Now, this roster as currently constructed is probably the third best roster talent wise in the eastern conference. The new-look Philadelphia 76ers despite losing Jimmy Butler have gotten better in my opinion by adding Al Horford and Josh Richardson. The Milwaukee Bucks are also a team I consider more talented than the Boston Celtics even though they lost Malcolm Brogdon and Nikola Mirotic, leaving the Boston Celtics as the clear third team in the east.

Despite being the third best team in the east, I consider the Boston Celtics the team with the highest ceiling. There is a way for this team to come out on top of the conference when the season concludes and even make the NBA finals and it all begins with Jayson Tatum.

After a better than expected rookie campaign from Tatum, the expectations for him last season were very high. Now, while he didn’t have an awful season, he certainly did not reach the heights many expected him too.

You can blame Kyrie Irving, you can blame the famed sophomore slump, but at the end of the day, he took a step back in year two as opposed to a step forward.  If this team wants to eclipse Milwaukee and Philadelphia, Jayson Tatum needs to become the player we saw in the 2018 playoffs. The same fearless player who dunked on Lebron James and was knocking down clutch shots when it mattered most.

To start the season, Kemba Walker will probably shoulder most of the scoring load, but as the season progresses, I would really like to see that responsibility of being the number one option shift from Walker to Tatum.

With the addition of Kemba Walker, there is no doubt that this team is a top 4 team in the eastern conference. However, for them to truly take off and be the best possible version of themselves, Tatum needs to take a leap forward in terms of his progression.

Next. Top five short-term Celtics. dark

He needs to be the teams leading scorer and with the clock winding down and the game on the line, the ball needs to be in his hands. The NBA is wide open this upcoming season and if Tatum becomes the player we all think he can become, I like this teams chances of getting to the NBA finals.

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