CELTICS JOURNAL: Tatum among NBA’s Most Improved Players

The last time a member of the Celtics finished in the top four in voting for the Most Improved Player award was 1991.

Kevin Gamble was the runner-up to Scott Skiles of the Orlando Magic that year after tripling his scoring average to 15.6 points per game. Two years before that, Celtics guard Reggie Lewis also finished second, to Kevin Johnson of the Phoenix Suns, after increasing his scoring average by [...]

The last time a member of the Celtics finished in the top four in voting for the Most Improved Player award was 1991.

Kevin Gamble was the runner-up to Scott Skiles of the Orlando Magic that year after tripling his scoring average to 15.6 points per game. Two years before that, Celtics guard Reggie Lewis also finished second, to Kevin Johnson of the Phoenix Suns, after increasing his scoring average by 14 points a game.

Nearly 30 years after Gamble came close to winning the award, Jayson Tatum is among the leading vote-getters this season, placing fourth behind winner Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks.

Tatum, who led the Celtics in scoring (23.4 points) after averaging 15.7 points a year ago, received three first-place votes, seven second-place votes and 21 third-place votes for the highest finish by a Celtics player in 29 seasons.

No member of the Celtics has won the award, which came into existence in the 1985-86 season.

Tatum, 22, did more than just improve his scoring output as he has become a better defender, rebounder and passer. His rebounding average went from six to seven per game and his assists went from 2.1 to 3.0.

The overall game of Tatum was on display Tuesday night when he helped the Celtics take a 2-0 series lead over the Toronto Raptors in a second-round series that continued Thursday night at Disney World.

Tatum registered career playoff-highs of 34 points and six assists and grabbed eight rebounds in 42 minutes in the come-from-behind 102-99 win.

Tatum also established a career playoff-high at the foul line for attempts and makes, going 14 for 14, only the 15th time in regular-season and playoff games that he’s shot 10 or more free throws. His career-high for attempts is 15 (Feb. 23 against the Los Angeles Lakers).

Going against one of the best defenses in the NBA, Tatum was getting the ball and moving right away, drawing fouls as he went to the basket.

"They’re a great defensive team, so you can’t dance and play with the ball,’’ said Tatum. "They play great team defense so you’ve got to make quick decisions.’’

That has been the game plan for Tatum, who had been drawing double coverage for center Marc Gasol in the opener.

"I thought he attacked quicker,’’ said coach Brad Stevens. "When he caught the ball, he went right to what he was going to try to get to. I thought that was a big part of him being able to score.

"Obviously he makes tough shots, but at the end of the day, he’s a guy that we know can get to his spots. We know he can get his shots. The way defenses are guarding him, they’re really getting up under him, so he’s going to have to make those moves quick. I thought he adjusted to that well (in Game 2)."

Jaylen Brown also received votes for the Most Improved Player award, finishing 12th with three third-place votes. He was seventh in the 2017-18 season when teammate Terry Rozier placed 10th that year.

Walker finished strong

Kemba Walker struggled with his shot during the first three quarters of Game 2, going 2 for 14 and missing all seven 3-pointers.

But Walker responded in the fourth quarter when he was 4 for 4, including a 3-pointer for a 100-94 lead with 2:24 to go and a step-back with 41.6 seconds remaining to open a three-point edge.

"I’ve missed so many shots in my life, I’m never going to get down on myself,’’ said Walker. "I’m just going to fire away to help my teammates. I thought I stayed solid defensively, which was most important.

"My teammates held it down. A lot of guys had great contributions. Down the stretch, (I was) just staying confident. I work hard on my game. I thought I got great looks, they just weren’t falling. It happens to the best of us. I just stayed aggressive.’’

Smart fined $5K

The NBA hit Marcus Smart with a $5,000 fine for flopping during the third quarter of Game 2.

Smart was penalized for a play with 2:46 remaining in the quarter when he was running alongside Pascal Siakam on a Raptors’ fast break. Smart hit the floor after the two appeared to make slight contact.

The original call was an offensive foul on Siakam, negating a basket by Fred VanVleet, but after a video review, the basket counted and Smart was called for a foul.

"It was a fast break for them, so I’m trying to get back and he stopped and impeded my progress,’’ said Smart Tuesday night after his five fourth-quarter 3-pointers led the Celtics comeback. "He gave me a little bump and I guess I hit him and I got the foul.’’

jfenton@enterprisenews.com

On Twitter at @JFenton_ent.