Luckily for the Celtics, Jayson Tatum’s career progression has come with an ever-increasing skill set and an ever-increasing set of shoulders. Tatum carries a massive burden for the Celtics offensively across those shoulders, which are starting look like a homage to Dwight Howard. But Tatum’s value isn’t in being a one-way offensive star; it’s the combination of his offensive ability and how incredibly good he’s become as a defender.
Joe Mazzulla doesn’t shy away from testing the limits of Tatum’s defensive abilities, and this series he’s tasked him with his biggest matchup yet (literally).