Although Tatum averaged 26.8 points on 44.1% shooting and Brown averaged 23.4 points on 49.2%, their ability to step aside and accept help from others when necessary was what allowed them to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Al Horford, who turned back time with a 22-point, 15-rebound, 5-assist, and 3-block effort, was the star of Game 5.

The series’ and the team’s successful postseason run thus far, however, can be attributed to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s selfless, balanced play. Both players were content to pass the ball to teammates when necessary and to score when necessary.

Their combined five-time appearance in the conference finals was made possible by their well-rounded basketball.

Tatum delivered back-to-back 33-point performances in Cleveland, where the series was knotted 1-1, to guarantee the club would return to Boston ahead in the series. In contrast, Brown scored 29 points in Game 4 and 28 points in Game 3 with outstanding efficiency.

However, they were content to back off when someone else got the upper hand—Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, or in Al Horford’s case on Wednesday night.

On his way to the Cavs’ elimination, Jayson Tatum stuffs the stat sheet.

Tatum had one of his more productive shooting performances of the postseason in the series-winning Game 5 victory, with 25 points on 9–16 FG in addition to 10 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals.

In the conference semifinals, Tatum averaged 26.8 points on 44.1% shooting, 10.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists despite all the hoopla around his poor shooting. Tatum’s increased efficiency will be welcomed by those who are paying attention to his shooting lines.

However, the truth is that he has dominated the game throughout this postseason run in a variety of ways, including playmaking, defensively, and on the glass. He occasionally stuffed the stat sheet. At other times, he just concentrated on setting up screens, passing, or acting as a decoy to get his teammates open.

“Would I like to screen? Should I handle the ball? Making the appropriate reads is really easy,” Tatum remarked. I don’t tell myself I’m going to shoot or pass when I walk down the floor. Making the appropriate reading depending on the response is all that’s required.

The Celtics have only lost 20 games this season and have amassed 72 victories thanks to their desire to make the correct read.

Tatum is the third-best rebounder among players still in the playoffs, averaging 10.4 per game, behind only Nikola Jokic and Josh Hart. He also has a playoff career-high assist-to-turnover ratio.

“I really kind of hang my hat on rebounding the basketball, especially during the playoffs,” Tatum remarked.

Critics have insisted throughout the playoffs that in order for the Celtics to win, he must play a more active offensive role and score in a manner comparable to that of Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic.

Tatum, though, has insisted that as long as the team wins, his scoring totals are irrelevant to him.

Tatum stated, “We are aware of our offensive prowess, but every night kind of offers new challenges – being ready and up for the task to do whatever is needed.” “Because we are both capable of doing anything on the basketball court. Every night can require a different item.

In spite of the outstanding series, Brown was prepared to be less active offensively in Game 5.

Brown, on the other hand, made just nine shots in his career playoff series, but he finished with 11 points and seven assists. This has been one of his most effective series.

Brown was averaging 26.5 points per game on 61.2% shooting before Wednesday night. Following Game 4, he said he didn’t think any Cavaliers player could stop him.

Despite the temptation to maintain his high-scoring totals, he chose to defer to others for the majority of Game 5. He performed the little things, recording a block and a steal as well as crucial defensive plays that went unnoticed by the stat sheet.

Joe Mazzulla remarked after the game, “Jaylen only took nine shots tonight, but he was, I thought, tremendous defensively.” He was totally focused on speaking. He was audible to me. He made the correct play when he did grab the ball, despite a few crashes on offensive rebounds.

The fans and media favored Jayson Tatum’s heroics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals from the previous year when he scored 51 points to defeat the 76ers. However, Brown or Tatum do not need to shoot thirty shots or score fifty points a night in order for this Celtics squad to function.

They merely need to choose the appropriate play.

In this instance, it has enabled them to secure their place in a third consecutive Eastern Conference Final by winning eight of their first ten playoff games.

Brown and Tatum were commended by Horford, the night’s hero, for their willingness to sacrifice their individual performances and touches for the benefit of the team.

“Our guys keep working no matter what gets thrown at them, things that people want to talk about, criticize,” Horford remarked. They never stop acting in our group’s best interests. And it’s been abundantly clear this year. Men are attempting to play the proper game. They give up something for the group. We have been focusing on that all year.