The Jay-Team on Diesel Dunks of the Week
NBA TV's Shaquille O'Neal has a lot of fun with his Game Time Diesel Dunks of the Week, and now so can we. We will be seeing more of them from our Celtics. For the past week, Jaylen Brown's breakaway, reverse dunk made number seven. Jayson Tatum's come-from-nowhere jam of Aron Baynes' miss was number six.
How many NBA teams would just love to have these two guys with them? The Jay-Team is having fun, and so are we.
Celtics fans are not the only ones who see the impact these two young guys are making in the League. In the article, The future is now: Brown, Tatum make C's history, NBA's Taylor C. Snow made these observations:
Tuesday night they became the first Celtics teammates under the age of 22 to score 20-plus points in the same game. With birthday boy Brown scoring a game-high 23 points, and Tatum right behind him with a career-high 22 points, the Celtics were able to down the New York Knicks with ease, 110-89.
They certainly pushed each other Tuesday night. Both were like human highlight reels on the offensive end, throwing down dunk after dunk, and hitting shot after shot.
The pair combined to shoot 18-of-31 from the field, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range.
Yet, as teammate Al Horford reflected back on the record-setting offensive performance, he said their defense is what impressed him the most.
“A lot of people look at their offensive stuff,” said Horford. “But just defensively with their activity, being in the right positions every time, scrambling on defense – Tatum did that time and time again, and so did Jaylen. It was nice to see them have some success on offense, but defensively, I think that’s where I’m focused with them.”
Brown and Tatum’s well-rounded, collective efforts are also earning praise from Kyrie Irving. The 25-year-old point guard, who hit stardom at a young age, has been impressed with the rapid progression the duo has shown during the beginning stages of the season.
“They’re taking big strides every single day in practice, and they’re showing it in the games,” said the four-time All-Star, who logged 20 points Tuesday night. “It’s still early, but you’ve got to give them credit. They’re coming out ready to play and they’re demanding a lot of themselves, which I really appreciate.”
The strong starts by Brown and Tatum have enforced the common preseason belief that the pair could become the future of the Celtics franchise. But their strong starts have also created an even more exciting notion among Celtics players and fans.
Horford confidently put it into words shortly after Brown and Tatum’s record-setting performance: “They’re here, and they’re making their mark right now.”
Stay tuned for more NBA Diesel Dunks from the Jay-Team - and a lot of exciting plays.
Video via NBA Universe
Photo via Daniel Liam Kyle/NBAE
Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC
