Jayson Tatum Odds and Props: Boston Superstar Does Superstar Things in NBA Finals

The Boston Celtics have looked like the team of destiny all season long, and they’ll put their skills to the test against the Dallas Mavericks tonight.

NBA Finals odds have the C's favored by 6.5 points, but to pull off the opening-game victory, they’ll need Jayson Tatum to make an impact in more ways than one. 

Find out how he will do that in my NBA picks for this Mavs vs. Celtics matchup on June 6.

Jayson Tatum prop picks for June 6

• Over 15.5 rebounds+assists (-102)
• Over 15.5 reb+ast/Over 26.5 pts/Under 2.5 threes (+1,100)

Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

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Jayson Tatum best bet

Over 15.5 rebounds + assists (-102)

The Jayson Tatum discourse has become exhausting. He’s catnip for NBA talking heads and there seems to be a non-stop debate raging on over how good he really is.

Sure, he isn’t in the same tier as a player like Luka Doncic, but with the talent around him, Tatum is the ideal go-to player for how Joe Mazzulla’s team is constructed. His willingness to take on the roles of glass cleaner and playmaker has him leading the Boston Celtics in both rebounds (10.4) and assists (5.9) this postseason.

Tatum is one of only three players to average double-digit rebounds and more than 5.5 assists this playoffs — the other two being Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, who account for the last four MVP awards.

He’s pulled in over 10 boards per game in each series and has finished with at least 10 in 11 of 14 playoff games. That bodes well for Boston, with Dallas ranking just 21st in rebounds per game (42.9) this season while allowing the sixth-most boards to opponents (45.1).

When it comes to racking up assists, Tatum’s taken advantage of the strong play around him, with Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White all providing strong scoring performances during this postseason run. Tatum has averaged over six dimes per game in each of Boston’s last two series, including back-to-back eight-assist games against Indiana.

The Dallas Mavericks allowed 27.5 assists per game this season while giving up the fifth-most in the league to power forwards (4.79). Tatum has gone for Over 15.5 combined rebounds and assists in 10 of 14 postseason games — including six of his last seven — and will be in prime position to do it in Game 1.

Prop: Over 15.5 rebounds + assists (-102 at DraftKings)

Jayson Tatum same-game parlay

Over 15.5 rebounds + assists

Over 26.5 points

Under 2.5 threes

+1,100 at bet365

For as well rounded as Tatum’s been in the playoffs, a slow start in the scoring department seems to have soured how he’s viewed by some in sports media. Plenty of talking heads have questioned Tatum despite him averaging Over 30 per game in the ECF.

While his 3-point shooting has been inconsistent at best, Tatum's shown off his physicality, athleticism, and skill around the rim for much of the playoffs. Dallas’ frontcourt could have some trouble with him, especially with the return of Kristaps Porzingis creating more floor spacing.

Tatum has gone Over 26.5 points in four of his last seven games, and he’s done it without relying on the long ball. He’s shooting only 29% from deep this postseason and has hit fewer than three 3-pointers in 11 of 14 games. 

With consistent shooters around him, like White and Porzingis, there just hasn’t been much of a need for him to drain long bombs. In Game 1, expect Tatum to lean on his mismatches inside the arc to score and slash his way to the paint. 

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