Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum reportedly was surprised the Dallas Mavericks made the NBA Finals. Tatum appeared at the Maynard Fine Arts Theatre in Maynard, Massachusetts, last Thursday. The 26-year-old said he knew the Celtics were winning the NBA championship as early as the end of the conference semifinals.
Tatum’s recent words sparked a conversation on social media. The Celtics blew out the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and became NBA champions for the 18th time in franchise history. Here’s what you need to know about his words.
Jayson Tatum’s Disbelief About Dallas Mavericks
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum spoke at the Maynard Fine Arts Theatre last Thursday. According to Sports Illustrated via The Boston Globe, Tatum said, “People always ask me, ‘When did you guys know you were going to win a championship?”
“When Minnesota beat Denver [in the conference semifinals], I felt like Denver was the only team that they matched up best with us. I thought that we were going to play Denver in the Finals and it was going to be a good one.”
Tatum’s statement was a bit lengthy, but perfectly understandable, as a Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets matchup in the NBA Finals likely would’ve been better than the Dallas Mavericks.
Jayson Tatum’s Comments About Dallas Mavericks
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum’s comments about the Dallas Mavericks were acceptable, as the Denver Nuggets likely would’ve been a better opponent in the NBA Finals. But the Nuggets were up by 20 at the start of the second half and the Minnesota Timberwolves stormed back to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
The Timberwolves weren’t a good match for the Mavericks, who defeated them in five games. However, the current Nuggets roster wasn’t guaranteed to make an interesting matchup against the Celtics.
No one would’ve accurately predicted the Nuggets’ success against the Mavericks, but Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic are fun to watch. Doncic and Jokic would’ve been a great combination for must-see television.
Jayson Tatum’s Correct About Confidence
Jayson Tatum’s correct about the Boston Celtics’ confidence, even if he’s wrong about his reaction to the Dallas Mavericks’ trip to the NBA Finals. According to Sports Illustrated, Tatum added,
“But when we were in Dallas and we went up, 3-0, oh my God. Nobody has ever come back from 0-3, so I remember getting back to the locker room and I remember saying, I don’t know what game it’s going to be, but we’re going to win the championship. That was a weird feeling. I wasn’t able to sleep that night, and I remember the morning of Game 4 we had shootaround, and I had never been in the position that if we win tonight, we’re champions.
We were at shootaround and everybody was trying to act normal. I couldn’t take a nap. We lost by like 30. We wanted to win so bad. We were so anxious and so tight. But I knew when we were coming back home for Game 5, we were going to win.”
Tatum was correct about being confident against the Mavericks, who didn’t have as much offensive firepower to keep up with the red-hot Celtics.
For More Great Content
Are you desiring top-tier content that covers everything? From thrilling sports and intoxicating entertainment news to gaming tips and professional betting advice, Total Apex covers it all. Delve into our no-fluff articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the latest scoops in the gaming industry that will take your experiences to the next level.
Finally, our betting advice will give you a decisive edge over the competition and increase your odds of beating the books. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, Total Apex is your one-stop shop for all things compelling and relevant. Don’t forget we cover Fantasy Sports, too!
Check out all our sites: Total Apex Sports, Total Apex Fantasy Sports, Total Apex Entertainment, Total Apex Sports Bets, and Total Apex Gaming. Out of the ashes of obscurity will rise a beast. Always remember to Respect The Hustle! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports to stay informed.
