Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who finished fourth in Most Valuable Player voting this season, was motivated on Friday night by watching Joel Embiid receive his MVP trophy before Game 3 of the Sixers/Celtics series in Philadelphia, writes Jamal Collier of ESPN.
It wasn’t exactly Hakeem Olajuwon dominating David Robinson and the Spurs following Robinson’s MVP ceremony in 1995, but Tatum led the Celtics to a 114-102 win in Game 3, scoring a team-high 27 points and helping Boston reclaim home-court advantage in the series.
“It just got me really ready to play,” Tatum said of the pregame ceremony, per Collier. “You could feel the energy from the crowd and the building. I’m happy for (Embiid). He earned it, he deserved it, but I was just focused on trying to win tonight.”
In addition to his 27 points, Tatum grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds, handed out five assists, and had a a pair of steals and a block, earning praise from his teammates for a “superstar” performance.
“He played a terrific game all around, but he finished a tough game on the road in a hostile environment for us,” Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon said. “That’s what superstars do.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- After scoring 45 points on 17-of-30 shooting in Game 1, James Harden has totaled just 28 points on 5-of-28 shooting in his last two games, both Sixers losses. Embiid wants to see his star teammate be more assertive on offense going forward, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “I mean, you just talk to him and you keep telling him to keep shooting,” Embiid said after Friday’s loss. “Be aggressive. Can’t get too high, can’t get too low. Some nights you’re going to make lots of other shots, a lot of tough ones, and some nights you’re not going to make them. So it’s about finding other ways to impact the game.”
- After Marc Stein suggested that the Nets could be one of the teams with interest in James Borrego as an assistant coach, a league source confirms to NetsDaily that Brooklyn is “100%” in on pursuing Borrego for a spot on Jacque Vaughn‘s staff. The Nets, who are parting ways with multiple assistant coaches, also expressed interest in Borrego last year, per NetsDaily.
- Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required) poses four questions for the Nets to answer this offseason, including what their long-term plan is at point guard and what the cost will be to re-sign restricted free agent Cameron Johnson.
Game 2 and 3 shooting
Harden 5 -28
Maxey10-30
Paul George playoffs stats 3 years ago
Harden had his one good game…
The series is over…
Well technically it’s not…
I tried telling you Sixer fans. Harden is not a winner. He doesn’t show up for big gms. And the big gms are playoffs. Series not one gm. He’s not about winning. He’s about his brand. Moreyon has Bamboozled Philly …….
After Celtics send you Home. You should let Harden and Moreyon walk ……..
Knickerbocker please. No team is Choking like the Knicks. There is no need for anyone in New York to explain winning.
If Rockets sign Harden next month (June 30), Jalen Green has to be traded.
Rockets can’t afford 2 offensive players in the back court and neither plays defense.
Sillyman you should watch Green play. Search all the videos. The guy is a kid by NBA standards. He’s got size and talent. That in itself is rare. The guy is going to be a star.
Nets will resign Cam. He and Bridges are two building blocks for sure. And Dinwiddie is their PG. You’d think a NY writer would know that. They have a solid third guard in Thomas. A very good big in Claxton. They do need more size. Drafting a center is a must.
Today you can find centers late in draft. Their biggest unknown is Ben. I’d love to play him at the 4. But no one knows anything if the guy don’t play.
Trade for Rudy …. Minny is a good place for Ben to find his game. Cause NY is already running out of patience with him. Claxton is a great mix with KAT imo. Ben, Claxton, and a pick. Works for both teams.
The issue that the Sixers face is the lack of a max slot that they would have to work with not bringing Harden back. In truth though, the issue in general isn’t Harden, even if it has been the last two games. Between an oft-injured star and a pair of unreliable wingmen, the Sixers need guys down the roster to help, which is a problem given everyone else on said roster is more or less useless. Rather than signing a bunch of potential bench pieces this off-season, the Sixers need to focus on getting a legit 3/4 to add to the Embiid-Harden-Maxey quartet.
I’m starting to wonder if Tatum is to focused on individual awards not the team i mean Brown’s going hard all night well Tatum cry’s to the refs and pouts when he doesn’t get his way this is just imo