Cú úp rổ của Jayson Tatum vào lưới Hawks vừa thổi bay cuộn phim highlight của tôi
Tatum Goes Airborne Over Atlanta
Look, I curate highlights for a living. I see a lot of dunks. But when Jayson Tatum took flight against the Hawks last night, that wasn't just two points. That was a statement. He drove left from the wing, crossed Dejounte Murray, and then just elevated over Clint Capela like the rim was his personal trampoline. Capela’s a big dude, 6-foot-10, and Tatum just cleared him like he wasn't even there.
That one play, that one moment of pure aerial artistry, immediately jumped to the top of my "Dunks of the Month" folder. It was a vicious slam, the kind where the ball rips through the net and the backboard shakes a little. The Celtics ended up winning 123-113, and Tatum dropped 35 points, but let's be real, that dunk is what everyone's still talking about. My guy literally climbed the ladder.
Trae Young's Handles Are Still Filthy, Though
And it wasn't just Tatum putting on a show. Trae Young, for all the Hawks' struggles this season, still has some of the nastiest handles in the league. There was a sequence in the second quarter where he put Derrick White in a blender, a couple of quick crossovers, a between-the-legs, and then that patented floater over Al Horford. That's a highlight reel on its own. He finished with 29 points and 10 assists, showing that even in a loss, he's still a walking bucket who can create magic. His no-look pass to Onyeka Okongwu for an alley-oop in the third? Pure silk.
Thing is, the Hawks didn't have enough of those jaw-dropping moments to keep pace with Boston. The Celtics just have too many dudes who can make spectacular plays. Jaylen Brown had his own poster attempt over De'Andre Hunter that didn't quite connect, but the intent was there. That's the difference between a good team and a great team – the sheer volume of athletic talent. The C's are deep, man, and they show it in explosive bursts.
My bold prediction? Tatum will have at least two more dunks this season that land in my top five plays of the year. He's just different right now.