Jayson Tatum is a victim of his own high expectations as well as those of the Celtics.

While the Lakers and Warriors are expected to show that postseason experience is paramount, Jayson Tatum is a victim of his own high expectations, as well as those of the Celtics.

Jayson Tatum’s post-All Star Game performance is one that almost every NBA player can take pride in.

Despite his somewhat decreased efficiency and occasionally poor performance in the fourth quarter, the story surrounding him has recently suggested a small problem.

After a victory over the Trail Blazers on Monday night, it was brought to the attention of Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla that Tatum was not performing up to his customary high standards. This statement encapsulated the difference between expectation and reality rather nicely.

The coach retaliated, saying, “He had 26 [points], eight [rebounds], and five [assists].

“You said we couldn’t stop [Tyrese] Maxey when he did that.”

While Tatum’s shooting percentage has dropped from 47.5 to 45.9 percent in the ten games since the All-Star break, it is true that his scoring has reduced marginally from 27.1 to 25.3 points prior to his game-changing 38-point performance against Portland on Tuesday.

Furthermore, and maybe more significantly, the former Duke product has occasionally had difficulty in the clutch. In the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ crushing of the Cavaliers, he was one of nine from the field. A few days later, he missed a wide-open corner three-pointer that would have given Boston a late lead in their ultimate defeat to the Nuggets.

Should this two-week period be deemed a slump, it would not be observed among players with lower talent levels and on teams with lower expectations.

However, when you are the top player on the NBA’s best team (based on record), it’s enough to ruin your chances of winning MVP and cast doubt on your team’s championship history.

Mazzulla said to reporters prior to the Celtics’ game against the Knicks last month, “When you

possess a great deal of skill, you should, in my opinion, push them and hold them to a very high level.

Fair enough, that is also happening in public right now as hoops fans and the media pick apart whether a 51-14 powerhouse can continue.

The big picture indicates that the Celtics should aim to take their chances after reaching the NBA Finals, at the absolute least. They are the 9.5-game favorites to win the NBA, have the greatest net rating in the league by 3.7 points, and are currently leading the East.

However, for a club hoping to be voted the greatest in the NBA, these past few weeks have brought up some very real questions.