The Boston Celtics have had a tough season so far. Jayson Tatum has been the lone bright spot for the team, but he needs to find ways to go off in order for them to win games. If they can learn about Bird’s mentality from Tatum and use it against Brooklyn, then maybe their woes will be over soon.,
Jayson Tatum is a rookie that has been playing well for the Boston Celtics. He is averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds per game, but he needs to have a mentality like Larry Bird if they want to beat the Brooklyn Nets. Read more in detail here: where is jayson tatum from.
Larry Bird was never a very athletic basketball player. He possessed basketball abilities, but it was his mental game that set him apart from the pack. Sure, the Boston Celtics forward could shoot and distribute like the best of them, but he was always psychologically ahead of the game.
Bird and the Celtics returned the favor in 1984, one year after being swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Celtics defeated the Bucks in five games to get to the NBA Finals in 1984. Bird revealed his mindset entering into the 1984 series with the Bucks after the series-clinching Game 5. Jayson Tatum and the Celtics will need to use the same strategy against the Brooklyn Nets.
In 1983, Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics were humiliated by the Milwaukee Bucks.
On Sept. 29, 1983, Boston Celtics player Larry Bird speaks to the press at press day. | Getty Images/David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe
In 1983, the Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks in a best-of-three first-round playoff series before facing the Bucks in the conference semifinals. Milwaukee was seeded third, while Boston was seeded second. In Game 1, the Bucks made a statement by defeating the Celtics 116-95.
They followed it up with a 95-91 win in Game 2 to take a 2-0 series lead back to Milwaukee. Bird was unable to play due to a fever.
Bird returned for Game 3, scoring 21 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Bucks from winning 107-99. With a 107-93 victory in Game 4, Milwaukee completed the stunning three-game sweep.
According to United Press International, Bird commented after the elimination game, “This is quite humiliating.” “Regardless of how many games we were behind, I believed we had a strong chance to win.” But we weren’t quite as good as we believed.”
It was the first time since 1951 that the Celtics have lost a game in a postseason series.
In 1984, Larry Bird had a mindset that Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics would need against the Brooklyn Nets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7 mKGqclZw
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Bird’s Celtics and the Bucks faced again in the playoffs the following year, this time in the Eastern Conference Finals. It was a completely different tale.
The Celtics dominated the first three games, winning all three with ease to take a 3-0 lead. They took five games to win the series.
Bird said after the game that the Celtics were not seeking vengeance.
“Winning a series is always fantastic,” Bird told UPI. “There was no vengeance component at all.” The Celtics aren’t coming to split the game. They are here to win.”
That’s the mindset Tatum and the Celtics must have when they face the Nets in the first round of the playoffs, which starts on Sunday. Last year, the Nets eliminated the Celtics in the first round. After winning Game 4, former Celtics player Kyrie Irving stepped on the Boston logo. There was a lot of drama. The Celtics must look beyond that.
It shouldn’t be about vengeance. The Celtics must ignore the commotion and come to play. For over three months, they’ve been the hottest club in the Eastern Conference. There should be no reminiscing over the previous year. There should be no element of vengeance. All the Celtics have to do now is maintain playing excellent defense and playing their game.
Tatum must demonstrate that he has the ability to lead the Celtics to the NBA Finals.
Tatum has been close to reaching the NBA Finals, but he has never made it. In his first season, the Celtics were defeated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Boston by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs by the Miami Heat in 2020.
Last season, the Celtics took a step back, finishing 36-36 and losing in the first round to the Nets. Boston was 25-25 through 50 games this season before lighting fire.
The Celtics have subsequently made strides in the right way, going 26-6 in the regular season. Is this the same club who won the first 50 games or the one that won the last 32?
Tatum is regarded as a superstar and the next great Celtics player. In order to continue in that route, he must demonstrate that he can lead a championship squad.
This will commence on Sunday.
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