To criticize Jayson Tatum's sophomore season is to vote against context. Knocks on his progress, while not entirely baseless, are mostly jabs at his start to the year, the Boston Celtics' roster makeup and the concept of insta-stardom. Rushes to judgment work both ways, and Tatum reaped the benefits of reactionary takes in his first season. Everything about 2017-18 accelerated his trajectory. He first held his own as a second-to-third option after Gordon Hayward's opening-night injury. Then, following Kyrie Irving's own season-ending injury in March, he headlined Boston as a focal point. No one expected this immediate rise—not even the Celtics. Tatum's debut season began with team president Danny Ainge assuming he wouldn't play enough to contend for Rookie of the Year. It ended with him nearly spearheading a series victory over LeBron James in the Eastern Conference Finals. read more https://bleacherreport.com/articles...om&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_medium=referral
