The Boston Celtics pulled off a miracle by forcing the Miami Heat to seven games behind a Jayson Tatum masterclass and a Derrick White buzzer-beater.
In Boston’s emphatic Game 6 win, Jayson Tatum recorded his 7th 30-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist game, which tied 2018 LeBron James for most in a single postseason in NBA history. Tatum can possibly break the record in Game 7.
LeBron’s 2018 playoff run is often considered one of the single-best runs we’ve seen from a player because of how James had to carry the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tatum has a far deeper supporting cast but has had to take the load in certain games when people around him are underperforming.
Tatum is averaging 27.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.3 assists through 19 games this postseason. LeBron averaged 34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 9.0 assists in 22 games during his 2018 playoff run, which saw him lose in the NBA Finals.
A Historic Run By Jayson Tatum?
Even though Tatum’s numbers don’t even remotely match what LeBron was doing in 2018, it’s still a remarkable postseason run that he’s on. Tatum set the record for most points in a Game 7 by dropping 51 against the Philadelphia 76ers and has a chance to have another signature Game 7 performance against the Miami Heat.
Tatum has been one of the most consistent playoff performers in the NBA, but he needs to break over the championship hump to get the respect he deserves. We’ve seen him lose in the Conference Finals and the NBA Finals; it’s time he wins in those situations. Overcoming a 3-0 deficit against the Miami Heat will be a generational accomplishment, but nothing is given value in the NBA until it comes with a championship attached to it.
