Tatum and Brown’s journey could make the title even sweeter

Tatum and Brown’s journey could make the title even sweeter originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston

Twenty months ago, still reeling from missteps in their first trip to the NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics’ All-Star tandem of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum sat together in a pair of director’s chairs on a film studio and were asked about their goals.

“Individually, we can be anything in this league — I believe that,” Brown said. “I, I want to win.”

Then, turning to Tatum, Brown asked his NBA teammate if he wanted to win. Tatum smiled widely and quickly stated.

“He also wants to win,” Brown said. “That’s what matters.”

Tatum quickly added: “Nothing else matters. All the individual stuff, I would trade it all to win a championship. And I believe we will achieve it.”

Six hundred days later, after enduring a few more painful bumps in the road, the Jays are one victory away from backing up their claims. Throughout the entire 2023-24 season, Brown and Tatum have sacrificed individual stats to allow each piece of an overhauled roster to thrive. Now, the Celtics are one win away from winning a title that will change many of the narratives that linger around the duo.

About the 16th anniversary of Boston’s last title triumphwith the date reflecting the city’s area code (June 17 and 617), the Celtics will have the opportunity on Monday to claim Banner 18 when the Mavericks visit TD Garden for Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals .

It’s fascinating to go back and listen to the Jays coming off their loss to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 Finals. They basically tell you what’s going to happen next. They reject all the criticism they have faced for failing to overcome the final hurdle and essentially promise that they will eventually secure a title.

Now that championship is within your reach.

How appropriate, too, that Brown and Tatum are the two favorites to emerge as Finals MVP. Brown is the favorite, having left an indelible two-way mark against the Mavericks, especially with his willingness to defend Luka Doncic. A raucous Game 5 could be enough for Tatum to get to the finish line and earn the MVP honor.

But here’s the thing: It doesn’t seem to matter to either of them how the award is awarded, as long as they both manage to collect the Larry O’Brien Trophy. It’s impossible to ignore individual honors — and Brown was left off the All-NBA and All-Defense teams certainly motivated him at times this postseason – but both players channeled all their energy into chasing the title that will change the way they are seen, both as a duo and individually.

All the conflicts the ensemble endured should make for a much sweeter title. For years, the Jays faced relentless criticism, with pundits screaming about whether they could win together. They’ve drawn individual criticism for not putting up the kind of flashy stats other stars have posted, though their counting stats have naturally dropped with the addition of two talented starters in Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis this season.

A championship ring would cement the Jays’ legacy, even if it was just one chapter in this team’s history. The conversation around them should shift from what they failed to, to trying to figure out where they are among the best duos in the history of the league.

Much of this will only be determined much later in their careers. But a title is validation that this could all work. Not that either of them lost much sleep when others suggested they didn’t.

The “young guys” who took much of the blame when Boston’s title hopes faded despite having rosters full of talent (like during the 2018-19 season) have a chance to secure the elusive flag. How appropriate it would be for Kyrie Irving to be on the other side of the court at the finish line of this journey.

Irving once wished for his number 11 to hang from the rafters at TD Garden. A title could be the first step towards the possibility that numbers 0 and 7 will eventually get there.

Even the most optimistic person could not have imagined this moment during the summer of “7/11” and Tatum’s debut in Boston during the 2017 Summer League, before trading the number 11 jersey for the number 0. There was hope that the young duo , both No. 3 picks in the draft, could further accelerate the Boston team’s rise. But there were many more twists and turns ahead.

Along the way, the Jays said all the right things. They embraced the obstacles along the way and were never frustrated with the journey. This postseason, they remain focused on the ultimate prize.

“It’s definitely a blessing to be here, to represent the Celtics, my family, the organization, the community, our community at large,” Brown said Sunday. “It’s an honor I don’t take lightly. So, going out every night and playing for something, for what I represent, I think that matters.

“My relationship with Boston has grown. I’ve been here for almost nine years, since I was 18, 19 years old. advance to game 5.”

It’s been a long journey, but Monday night could change everything.