Feature Story Topic 1

“I got you today”
Evan Baton
The Boston Celtics have always been a team that competes, but the team and fans went
through the years 2012-2015 doubting the future. That all changed through the draft… In 2016
the Celtics drafted underrated guard Jaylen Brown who went to school at University of
California. In 2017 the Celtics drafted someone who would change the future in Jayson Tatum,
a star from the University of Duke. After we drafted the two young stars and kept our key
players Marcus Smart, Al Horford, etc.
Through the years we lost in the Eastern Conference Finals three times, the Semi Finals once,
and also the first round three times. Throughout this time fans were getting fed up and so was
the media, the talks began surfacing of blowing the whole operation up. Should the Celtics trade
Tatum? Brown? Smart? And prepare for a complete rebuild? Or have faith in the core they built.
Entering the 2021-2022 season the Celtics got off to a very slow start behind new head
coach Ime Udoka as former coach Brad Stevens was promoted to the new President of
Operations. Before January the Celtics were 18-21 at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the
talks were at an all time high of what's happening within the organization.
All of a sudden after January the team finished with a 51-31 record and rose all the way to
second in the Eastern Conference. The turning point started with a tweet from star Jaylen
Brown, while they were struggling. “The energy is about to shift. '' This tweet would go down in
history, After the tweet the team caught fire, becoming the number one defense and offense
with Jayson Tatum erupting into the superstar and MVP conversation.
Even with the final half of the season being great, the team was not satisfied. The first
round of the playoffs are starting and the Boston Celtics take on the Brooklyn Nets. Inside The
NBA on TNT, analysts, former players all had their popcorn ready as they all predicted the
series was going six or seven and could go either way. The Nets have two proven players who
are some of the most skilled in NBA history in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. The Celtics were
not underdogs but people weren't expecting them to do what they were about to do. Behind
Jayson Tatum who outplayed Kevin Durant swept them 4-0 and even won the first game by a
buzzer beater. Shaq was so amazed by the performance he said “At one point the student must
kill the master… and that's what happened.”
As the Celtics advanced to the next round even more doubt came. They're taking on the
defending champions in the Milwaukee Bucks and superstar Giannis Antenukoumpo. They are
without Kris Middleton but they are still the betting favorites. The Bucks behind Giannis' historic
numbers took a commanding 3-2 lead and headed back to Milwaukee.
Just as it looks like the Celtics season could be over Jayson Tatum has a moment that fans
would never forget. In Milwaukee Tatum goes for 46 points, He showed up when the team
needed him most and that was the fourth quarter. He scored ten straight against their best
defenders. Tatum led the Celtics to victory on the road and forced a game 7… The Bucks now
come back to Boston.
Both Brown and Tatum have great games but the story of game seven is Grant Williams. The
2019 draft pick who was also doubted by many who also wanted him traded. Williams went for a
career high in 27 points and hit seven three pointers, the team now advanced for the Eastern
Conference Finals for the fourth time with the core of Tatum, Brown, and Smart.
The Eastern Conference Finals take place and is a rematch from the 2019-200 season
between the Celtics and the Miami Heat. Jimmy Butler has willed his team to this point and the
matchup between him and Jayson Tatum is gaining ground. The series started off very odd…
the games were very lopsided. The Celtics would run away with one then the Heat would run
away with another. The series ends up going seven because of an insane game six
performance by Jimmy Butler in the Garden. Butler ended up dropping his playoff career game
high 47 points and willed his team to victory.
Entering Game 7 this would be the core's defining moment… can they finally get over the hump
and silence the hate. Jayson Tatum finished with 26 points, Jaylen Brown finished with 24
points, and Marcus Smart finished with 24 points. The Celtics would edge off the heat 100-96
and Tatum hitting clutch shot after clutch shot. Tatum won the first ever Larry Bird Eastern
Conference Finals MVP and the celebration took place… the core finally did it. Tatum and
Brown were hugging and they were yelling “They said we couldn't play together!” The smiles on
their faces were unforgettable. The three that have been through so much adversity all got a
picture together. They finally did it and made it over the hump.
Before Kobe Bryant passed a tragic death in 2020 he trained with Jayson Tatum and
bettered his post game, shot creation, and decision making. Tatum has always looked up to
Bryant, he has always been his idol. In game seven against the Miami Heat which was a pivotal
game in Jayson Tatum's young career. He wore a 24 purple and gold elbow sweatband to
honor him and show that he's with him in his journey. After the game Tatum posted to instagram
and in the last post Tatum sent Kobe a text saying “I got you today” and he made Kobe proud
with his performance and his ability to handle adversity. Tatum and the Celtics finally get over
the hump with plenty more to give as all their careers are just getting kicked off especially young
superstar Jayson Tatum.

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“I got you today”

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