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LOS ANGELES: Jayson Tatum has known since he was drafted by the Celtics in 2017 that the measure of success in Boston is an NBA championship, but he has yet to win his 18th title.
“Even now, up 3-0, nobody’s celebrating or doing anything,” Tatum said Thursday, a day after the Celtics held off a Dallas comeback to beat the Mavericks 106-99 and clinch a spot in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) faces Dallas Mavericks center Derek Lively II (2) during Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Center
They have won 10 straight games, including a sweep of the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, and are expected to beat the Mavericks on Friday in Dallas. But while no team has yet come back from a 3-0 deficit to win in the NBA playoffs, Tatum said he and his Celtics teammates will focus on playing better in Game 4.
“We still feel like we can do a lot more,” Tatum said. “We still have a lot more we want to do.” The Celtics are currently tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most NBA championships with 17 titles.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) faces Dallas Mavericks center Derek Lively II (2) during Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Center
The last time they lifted the trophy was in 2008, and Tatum and teammate Jaylen Brown were on a team that had a chance to take it No. 18 two years ago but lost to the Golden State Warriors in the championship series, when Boston led 2-1 but lost the final three games.
Last season, the Celtics were looking for revenge, losing to the Miami Heat in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. “I think one thing we’ve really done better from our experience over the last few years is not relaxing and not getting complacent,” Tatum said.
Brown said the “embarrassment” of last year’s Game 7 loss at home to Miami has fueled his spirits this season. “It’s been a big part of my summer, it’s been driving me crazy,” he said.
Tatum called last season “a great learning experience.” “First of all, don’t take it for granted,” he said. “You’re never guaranteed to get back to the Finals.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) faces Dallas Mavericks center Derek Lively II (2) during Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Center
“I think everybody came into the season with a different mindset this year. I think it really shows that we don’t take anything for granted and we approach every day the same way.”
It’s that mentality that carried the Celtics to a league-leading 64 wins during the regular season. They’re undefeated on the road in the playoffs and have a chance to become the 10th team to win a 4-0 sweep in the NBA Finals.
The most recent sweep was the Golden State Warriors’ 4-0 win over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018. The first team to sweep the Lakers was the Boston Celtics against the Lakers in 1959. It was the team’s second title and the first of eight straight. “To be a part of Celtics history means you have to win a championship,” Tatum said.
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