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With the 2024-25 NBA season set to begin in a few months, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics has every reason to enjoy the appreciation. The 26-year-old has enjoyed the summer of his life thanks to winning an NBA title, a gold medal and becoming the cover athlete for NBA 2K25.
At the same time, the Oklahoma City Thunder earnings continued optimism and abandoned all fears to prepare for the title chase that they hope will be as fruitful as Boston’s next summer. It's an audacious claim, but then again, given the resurgence of excitement toward Russell Westbrook and the standings, apathy is not what Tatum feels makes sense, even after all those antics.
In a television appearance on "The Tonight Show" hosted by popular late-night comedienne and tv presenter Jimmy Kimmel, Tatum breezily dished out his "too damn early" predictions on the immediate upcoming finals. Although he praised the Thunder, he was careful not to put them at the top of the competition ladder.
Tatum's perspective comes from the reality of the lengthier and tougher NBA schedule. "The Boston Celtics," said Tatum before a long, playful pause. "Uh… it’s going to be a rematch. We are going to play Dallas again [in next year’s NBA Finals]." His effect was jocular, nevertheless.
Still, he held the conviction that Dallas would be the major rival for Boston once again.
Thunder's Postseason Test
Tatum's own Celtics are also considered the leading contenders in the Eastern Conference. He allowed the new look of the New York Knicks to change and most probably secure a few more wins.
Thus, they may become a more serious proposition. At the same time, in the equally fierce Western Conference, Oklahoma City, which has beaten Dallas in every mid-season assessment, must demonstrate that it can cope with the burden of postseason play.
Last year they struggled against the Mavericks' improved roster, however, summer moves such as Boston acquiring Isaiah Hartenstein should help cover their deficiencies. The regular season match-ups, along with a red-letter game against the Celtics on January 5, provide the Thunder with a chance to boast of their progress and give a sneak preview of how the upcoming finals will unfold.
This one promises to be especially revealing, giving a sense of whether or not the Thunder has really bridged the gap with the champions or if they still remain wannabes. It could be the case that Tatum’s comments were made in a more relaxed, talk show-type setting, which could explain them.
However, it incorporates the continuing story of the internal relationships at one of the teams in the National Basketball Association in particular and in the NBA in general, where every match can be a hit or a miss in the fight for the long-awaited Larry O’Brien trophy.
English (US)