Jayson Tatum made historic previous on Sunday, and he didn’t even play.
Tatum and the rest of the Celtics regulars sat out for the widespread season finale in opposition to the Hawks, and Boston’s well-known particular person clinched a historic feat by doing so. Tatum turned the first participant in Celtics historic previous to realize 30 or further elements per recreation in a single season, ending the widespread season at 30.1 elements per recreation in 74 video video games. The sooner franchise extreme was set by Larry Fowl in 1987-88, when he had 29.9 elements per recreation.
Tatum’s 2,225 elements are the fifth-most in Celtics historic previous, and possibly probably the most since Isaiah Thomas scored 2,199 elements in 2016-17.
Tatum’s occupation 12 months was accomplished in 74 video video games in a 12 months by way of which he battled by the use of lingering accidents. He dealt with wrist and finger points, and additional these days, a left hip contusion. An MVP candidate early inside the season, Tatum’s play regressed after the All-Star break and he appeared to hit a wall.
However Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens acknowledged on Sunday that he’s been happy with how Tatum’s workload has been managed this season. Stevens acknowledged earlier inside the season that he and Tatum argued regarding the star taking some time off and Tatum lastly carried out a career-high 2,732 minutes, which included numerous high-volume video video games.
“Particularly for the reason that All-Star break, actually good,” Stevens acknowledged of Tatum’s administration. “He’s had a few little nagging issues which have popped up so he’s missed a few video games right here and there which within the massive image’s not the tip of the world. I believe even should you take out the 49-minute recreation that he performed, the minutes are even down somewhat bit from the beginning of the yr and but he’s gotten a number of of these video games that preserve you prepared as a result of he’s gonna be a big-minute man within the playoffs clearly. And Jaylen (Brown) as nicely. So I be ok with us.”
Tatum sat out for Sunday’s recreation alongside Brown, Marcus Sensible, Al Horford, Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon, whereas the Hawks saved regulars Trae Younger, Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic and John Collins. The recreation was meaningless for every teams as they rested their regulars for the playoffs.
The Celtics may face the Hawks inside the first spherical of the playoffs. The Hawks will go to the Warmth in Miami on Tuesday evening time inside the 7-8 play-in recreation to search out out Boston’s first playoff opponent.
