mobile app bar

“This Jayson Tatum Defense is Big Part of Why he’s my MVP Pick”: NBA Twitter Shouts Out ‘MVP’ as Celtics Star Blocks Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey

Akash Murty
Published

“This Jayson Tatum Defense is a Big Part of Why he’s my MVP Pick”: NBA Twitter Starts 3x All-Star’s MVP Campaign Following His Big Block on Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey

Celtics forward Jayson Tatum leads the Celtics on both ends of the floor and makes a statement on why it is time for him to get himself into the MVP conversation

Last season, Jayson Tatum showed us how he has become one of the best players in the league while leading the Boston Celtics to their first NBA Finals in twelve years.

Now, the man seems possessed to be the world’s best. After playing and losing the first Finals of his life, Tatum looks poised this time to complete what they started, even in the absence of their General, Ime Udoka.

Also read: “Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson Convinced Me On Jordan”: Paolo Banchero Signs With Michael Jordan’s Brand Following Talks With Duke Brethren

The 6’8 prolific scorer looks to have dedicated his off-season to playing defense, and with the opening day game of the 2022-23 season, he showed why should he be among the top MVP candidates in the world.

Jayson Tatum gets the MVP shout-outs from the first quarter of the opening-day game

When the Boston Celtics hosted the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, both teams looked ready from the get-go with no off-season rust whatsoever.

With the refreshing energy for the first game of the season, both Tatum and Joel Embiid were showing up on both ends of the floor with some vigor.

The former in particular looked too fabulous and delivered a high-flying spike on Tyrese Maxey while he had also scored 1/3rd of his team’s total points in the first quarter.

NBA Twitter was on its toes to give the MVP shout-outs for the 3x All-Star as soon as he made that block.

Also read: “James Harden Looked Like Cookie Monster Met Grimace From McDonald’s”: NBA Twitter Erupts with Hilarious Reactions at The Beard’s Tunnel Fit

Tatum’s defense and MVP campaign can prove the X-factor for the defending Eastern Conference champs

JT’s willingness to play defense was fairly visible since the preseason started. The 24-year-old was talking to Marcus Smart throughout games while telling him to switch and getting himself on to the best opposition player.

And he is keeping at it as the regular season started with the Celtics taking on the Sixers. Having 33 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block by the end of 3rd quarter, Tatum led his team by example on both ends of the floor with a plus-minus of ‘+14’.

If he could keep up this energy throughout the season, there’s no one who could deny him the MVP award. Other than Giannis Antetokounmpo, nobody will be as good on both ends of the floor. And we know something about voter fatigue, don’t we?

However, it would also mean that the Celtics would get even better defensively, and being last year’s best defensive team in the league, they would again have the best chance to come out of the East, despite the Conference getting even stronger.

Also read: “Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are Just so Easy to Talk to”: Blake Griffin Calls Celtics Teammates ‘Normal’ Post 2-Years Stint with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving

The addition of Malcolm Brogdon has ensured a significant improvement in their offense as well. Scary times in the East I suppose?

About the author

Akash Murty

Akash Murty

x-iconfacebook-iconinstagram-iconlinkedin-icon

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

Share this article