Early in the third quarter of the Boston Celtics matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, Celtics second-year forward Jayson Tatum threw down a monster dunk over 76ers second-year point guard Ben Simmons and it got the players on Boston’s bench up.
Simmons, the reigning Rookie of the Year, was the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft but was forced to miss the 2016-17 season with a foot fracture. Averaging 16.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks per game game while shooting 54.5 percent from the field, the 6-foot-10 floor general continues to be one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league.
However, Tatum is a rising star in his own right and averaging 16.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three-point range, he’s an advanced scorer whose become a key player for Boston.
Should the two players remain with their respective teams, their productivity will only enhance the historic rivalry between Boston and Philadelphia. The Celtics and 76ers are two phenomenal teams with legitimate chances to reach the NBA Finals multiple times over the coming seasons.
