Marc Malty (11) | STAFF REPORTER
At the quarter-way mark of this NBA season, we’ve gotten a lot of anticipated and desired matchups such as Ben Simmons’ first game back in Phili or Lebron James’ homecoming in Cleveland. But without a doubt, what basketball fans have craved since the Summer of 2022, is a rematch between the NBA champion Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics, and on Saturday, December 10th, that’s what they received.
On June 16th, 2022, Stephen Curry was hoisting his Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy, celebrating, as his Warriors were crowned with their 4th title in 8 years, cementing them as one of the greatest dynasties in Sports history. What made the Warriors’ victory even more impressive, was the fact that prior to the commencing of the series, the Celtics were the favourites to win this matchup, with the Warriors only having a derisory 14% chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy once again. The Warriors defeated the Celtics in 6 games, crushing the soul of Boston but, creating perhaps the greatest motivation for Jayson Tatum, the underachieving Celtics star to break out into superstardom this NBA season.
Tatum’s underperforming in the Finals didn’t go unnoticed and fans came at him for his inconsistency shooting, lack of aggressiveness and poor defence at times. Tatum expressed his disappointment throughout the offseason, stating in an interview with Chris Mannix:
“Didn’t feel like talking to anybody. Didn’t feel like being bothered. It’s hard to explain if you have never been in that situation. But losing a championship was … miserable.”
Jayson Tatum to Chris Hannix via SI.com
What made this loss even more sour was the fact that the Celtics lost on their home court, in TD Garden, in front of their fans. However, instead of burying himself in criticism, Tatum has been in the lab this entire offseason and it’s shown. The young Celtics centrepiece is now averaging 30.0 PPG (5th in the league) to go with 8.1 RPG and 4.0 APG on 47% shooting. This leap Tatum has taken this season has aided to Celtics to a 21-6 record, the best in the league. Celtics core players such as DPOY Marcus Smart, 6th man Derrick White and the Robin to Tatum’s Batman, Jaylen Brown have been strong contributors to the Celtics’ success thus far, as well as New Head coach Joe Mazzulla’s impressive debut season coaching this historic franchise.
The Golden State Warriors, on the other hand, have not started the season as they hoped. Despite Stephen Curry having one of, if not, the best season of his career, the Warriors lost their first 8 away games this season and currently sit in 8th place in the West, with a 14-13 record. Drama surrounded these two finals-bound franchises shortly after the Finals. The suspension of Celtics coach, Ime Udoka due to violating team policies and the altercation between Warriors teammates Jordan Poole and Draymond Green, resulted in Green punching Poole in the face. There was a lot of uncertainty going into this 22/23 NBA season but the Celtics have made it clear that they are on a mission this season while the Warriors haven’t.
On Saturday night, December 10th, these familiar foes met again in what was dubbed an inevitable “revenge game” for the Celtics, who have been on a tear this season. However, what fans expected wasn’t the case, as the Splash Brothers reminded the world why they are the greatest backcourt in NBA history. Curry and Thompson, the long-tenured Dubs backcourt, both poured in 30+ points, with Thompson collecting a game-high 34, as the Warriors thrashed the Celtics 123-107. Jayson Tatum, the current NBA MVP favourite, was held to 18 points on an inefficient 29% shooting. The Celtics are without a doubt, the favourites to win the title this year but fans can’t help but notice Tatum’s underachieving whenever facing Golden State. Celtics fans better hope it’s just a game because if they encounter Chef Curry and his Warriors on their path to the Larry O’Brian again this year, it is uncertain if they have what it takes to take down the 4-time champs.
