The Eastern conference is treating us to some exciting second-round matchups in the 2020 NBA playoffs. #2 and #3 seeded Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics have locked horns in what seems like a series that will stretch till the very end. Moreover, it has opened up a personal battle between two stars: Pascal Siakam and Jayson Tatum. 

Both athletes are in more or less similar stages of their careers. While Siakam has a ring to show off his achievements, Tatum is one of the brightest young stars in the league.

The Celtics, under the prowess of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, took an early 2-0 lead in the series against the Raptors. However, this matchup between the Raptors and the most decorated team in the NBA has the capacity to go all the way till Game 7.

So far, we’ve embraced four games, in which both teams share an equal amount of success. 

Jayson Tatum: The future of the Boston Celtics? 

Just how good has 22-year-old Tatum been? From being a player who didn’t want to join the Celtics in 2017, he somehow seems to fit the team perfectly. His combination with Jaylen Brown is a treat to watch, and we’ve been witnessing it in this series as well. 

Tatum has been brilliant with his game from an individual standpoint. His flair for the game captivates the viewers’ eyes, which only prolongs with every fadeaway he converts!

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So far, the 6’8” forward is averaging 23.5 points, 4.2 assists, and 9.0 assists in the series. This stat might not exactly reflect his inspiring presence on the court! 

Jayson Tatum Reveals He Didn’t Want To Be Drafted By The Celtics

Even in a losing cause in Game 4, Tatum shot 55.6% from the field which speaks a lot about his determination to succeed. That said, Tatum fits perfectly into Boston’s culture and how they’ve been earning a name for themselves in the league all these years. 

Even though Jaylen Brown has been equally important for the Celtics, Tatum is the eye-catching star. Watching him suit up in the Celtics’ traditional green uniform makes one feel like he’ll stay at this franchise till the very end of his career. 

The late Kobe Bryant highly inspires Tatum to perform, and we can see the Mamba Mentality which drives the Celtics youngster to get better. This season is a platform for Tatum to announce his talent on the biggest stage.

However, he needs to get past the Raptors and Pascal Siakam to be able to advance further in the Playoffs.

“That Was a Dream Come True for Me”: Jayson Tatum Recalls His Workout With Kobe Bryant

Pascal Siakam: The key factor to Toronto’s success? 

Pascal Siakam winning the 2019 Most Improved Player award served as a motivation for what was about to come in this year. Kawhi Leonard left the north to join the LA Clippers and filled the void he left behind is no easy task. 

Raptors’ Nick Nurse has earlier mentioned that Siakam is the one that has taken over Kawhi’s duties and the Cameroonian was brilliant in the 2019/20 regular season. He drastically improved his average from last year, which undeniably carried Toronto into the Playoffs as the #2 seed. 

But has Siakam been able to live up to his duties in the series against the Celtics? Well, he was tremendous in Game 4, racking up 23.0 points and 11.0 rebounds to propel the Raptors to victory.

Toronto Raptors Coach Nick Nurse Downplays the Loss of Kawhi Leonard to the Team

Moreover, in the first three games, Siakam was unable to make a lasting impact, which in turn deterred Toronto’s chance of winning. Even though the reigning champions are stacked with talent, it all comes down to Siakam’s ability to effectively cover the floor on both ends. 

The numbers he put up in the first three games were decent, but not enough to replicate what Kawhi did for them last season. Siakam’s 17.2 PPG average in this series needs to go up a notch if the Raptors are looking to seal the second round.  

In games where Siakam is nowhere to be found, the Raptors look uninspired. He’s that flaming factor to uplift the team during challenging times. 

Celtics vs. Raptors: Tatum or Siakam? Who’ll guide their team to glory? 

Tatum vs Siakam seems like an exciting prospect. Set aside the stats for a minute and look at the quality of these two players. They undoubtedly have the capacity to step up and deliver.

But it all comes down to how they handle the pressure and progress in these moments. 

We’ve already seen Siakam stepping up in Game 4 to help the Raptors even the series. With just three games to go, it is going to get intense! On one hand, you have Jayson Tatum, Celtics’ rising star, and one for the future. 

On the other, there’s Pascal Siakam, who has the pressure of defending his team’s crown. It is in these moments that great players step up and perform.

Siakam has just found his rhythm and if he gets going, the Raptors might be able to pull off the comeback with the amount of experience that they’ve got.