Ball Durham
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Duke in the NBA: Conference Finals End on Sour Note for One Blue Devil

By Kevin Connelly

BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the second half during Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the second half during Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Conference Finals have ended and two Duke in the NBA players are moving onto the NBA Finals, but one former Blue Devil is headed back home.

As I’m sure all of you know by now the NBA Finals will be Part IV of the Cleveland Cavilers and the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals and the Cavs beat the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It’ll be Quinn Cook of the Warriors and Rodney Hood of the Cavs as the Duke in the NBA Players that are moving on the NBA Finals, but Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics is headed home after LeBron James took his Celtics down.

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Jayson Tatum’s rookie year was something to remember. He became a leader on the Celtics once former Blue Devils Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward were ruled out for the season with injuries and he was able to learn on the fly under Head Coach Brad Stevens.

If the Celtics had not made the playoffs, we would have looked back on Tatum’s year and said it was special.

The rookie averaged 13.9 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game through the grueling 82-game regular season.

As the playoffs rolled around, Tatum elevated his game on with the lights as bright as ever.

Tatum averaged 18.5 points per game in the playoffs, with his best series coming against the Philadelphia 76ers where he averaged 23.6 points per game.

In Game 7 against the Cavs, Tatum led the charge for the Celtics with 24 points and seven rebounds, with one monster dunk over LeBron James, that you can see below because it was just that amazing.

Tatum fell one vote short of being a unanimous selection to the NBA All-Rookie Team and is one of the three finalists for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

Despite coming up one game short of the NBA Finals with an injured team, Tatum still made his presence know around the NBA and he is on the verge, if not already arrived, of stardom.

Jayson Tatum. Remeber the name, because he is going to be making noise in the NBA for a long, long time.

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