Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. Hey! We’re in the play-in games now!
The Celtics secure a playoff spot, thanks to Jayson Tatum.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Charles Krupa/AP.)
The Boston Celtics have had an underwhelming season. But hey, they did get a postseason berth, thanks to the guy who their local media and fans seemed not fond of, which is such a head-scratcher.
Some of them said that Jayson Tatum didn’t want to be there. Well, if he wasn’t, I don’t know why he would try so hard to keep the Celtics season going. Anyway, without Tatum, they’d be toast. Jayson got hot early and kept the gas pedal down. Tatum would score 50 points in this all-important play-in game that would see the winner advance to the postseason and get the 7th spot. And that winner is Boston.
Boston was already hobbled enough. They don’t have Jaylen Brown for the rest of the playoffs. But Washington wasn’t healthy, either, as Bradley Beal is struggling with a hamstring ailment.
The Celtics pretty much ran away at the start of the second half. The game was tied at 54 after two quarters and Tatum and Kemba Walker scored every point in that 20-4 run. To help supplement Tatum’s scoring, Kemba went for 29 points.
Boston will now go on to face Brooklyn. Well, that’s certainly not an enviable position for the Celtics.
Bullet Passes
Oh, good grief. Charlotte looked like they just got out of bed playing Indiana. The Pacers thrashed them and the Hornets never stood a chance. Doug McDermott scored 16 points in the first quarter. Indiana had 8 players score in double digits.
It’s really gone unnoticed but Domantas Sabonis has been such a monster. He went for 14-21-9 against the Hornets.
Anyway, it’s Washington against Indiana for the final spot. The winner goes on to face #1 Philadelphia while the loser goes home. Tough spot for #9 Indiana, who has to win two road games to advance to the postseason.
If we didn’t have LeBron James/Stephen Curry coming up, the play-in is likely abolished just based on these two games. Man, they were devoid of excitement other than getting to see Tatum bust out for 50.
Oh, by the way? Tatum’s 50 won’t count ANYWHERE. Not for regular season stats. Not for playoff stats. I suppose we can say, “Oh, he’s averaging 50 points in play-in games!” but how often would anyone play these games in their career?
Yeah. I still don’t like the play-in. But I understand it. I really do. It doesn’t mean I have to like it, though!
NBA Scoreboard
May 18, 2021
Watch This Play
Russell Westbrook follows this one ferociously.
— Italo Santana (@ItaloSantana_10) May 19, 2021
All right. It’s the Western Play-In next.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.