Inside The Celtics

Dominant Display Earns Jayson Tatum Eastern Conference Player of the Month

Jayson Tatum averaged 27.2 points and helped lead the Celtics to a 9-1 record in February. His approach positions him to earn a more meaningful individual honor than MVP.

Bobby Krivitsky

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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It's been a rewarding off day for the Boston Celtics' star wing tandem. Jaylen Brown 

earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week for his outsized role in helping his team stage a 3-0 stretch of dominance.

The team atop the NBA standings, compiling a 48-12 record, won by an average of 32.7 points in that span, including shellacking the Golden State Warriors by 52 and the Dallas Mavericks by 28.

The three-time All-Star generated 31 points in a 117-99 victory vs. the Philadelphia 76ers, produced 18 in the paint and dished out five assists against the Mavericks, then registered a game-high 29 points in 22 minutes, buried 5/10 threes, and silenced Stephen Curry on Sunday.

His running mate, Jayson Tatum, got named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month on Monday. It's his second NBA Player of the Month award in the current campaign. He also earned this accolade for games played in October and November. 

The five-time All-Star joins Larry Bird as the only two Celtics to earn multiple Player of the Month awards in a single season. The former Duke Blue Devil's four career monthly honors are tied with Paul Pierce for the second-most in franchise history, trailing only Bird with seven.

The two-time All-NBA First Team selection utilized Boston's February slate, in which the Celtics went 9-1, to bolster his MVP case.

The six-foot-eight forward averaged 27.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per contest this month.

His all-around impact included taking on the challenge and quieting Jalen Brunson in a 116-102 victory vs. the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

He stuffed the stat sheet with 26 points and nine assists -- both game-highs -- and ten rebounds, a team-best, in the C's 110-106 win over the Miami Heat on Super Bowl Sunday. He also had two blocks in that game.

His steadfast commitment to making the right play and willingly giving up the ball quickly so the Celtics can capitalize on the numbers advantage that comes from opponents sending a second defender at him might be hurting his scoring and MVP case. But it's helping fuel his team's success.

If that leads to lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June, it will put him in a position to seize a more prestigious individual honor than Most Valuable Player.

Further Reading

Warriors' 'Disrespect' Only One Source of Fuel for Jaylen Brown Sunday

'The Best Team in the NBA': Luka Doncic Struck by Celtics' Balance

Tired of Celtics' Playoff Inconsistency, Wyc Grousbeck Decided 'We're Not Running It Back'

Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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