« Reply #37 on: July 28, 2021, 08:34:29 AM »
depends on the match-up
I never understood this line of thinking.
If there is a matchup that he has a problem with, he has to be a problem for his opponent, and he has to be the bigger problem. If he's good enough, the other team is the team that has to adjust.
Tatum can't take, nor should the team want him to, be forced to defend inside. It is physically wearing on a player to consistently have to guard bigger men, especially when the bigger men effectively utilize that size. Now sure those bigger men have to guard Tatum as well, which can serve an advantage, but I'd rather not have Tatum be exhausted and worn out game after game because of the strain of guarding beasts in the posts. Good way to get injured as well.
So sure against many teams it isn't a problem, but it is a problem against a lot of teams, many of which are playoff contenders in the East, like Milwaukee, Atlanta, Indiana, etc.
What you're saying is true but how many 4's in today's NBA are inside players? It seems like most NBA teams have pf's who are mostly outisde guys now as well so it shouldn't be much of an issue.
I listed 3 teams where the PF's are bigger than Tatum, are good to great offensive players, and are able to effectively play in the post. 2 of those teams just played in the ECF and the other is a playoff contender. But even if they do play on the perimeter, it is still draining consistently guarding bigger men all game long.
Tatum is at his best as a SF guarding SF's. That is the position he should be playing. Sure short bursts here and there are fine, but if Tatum is the full time PF, that is a bad position.
Milwaukee - Giannis. You're right on this one but Giannis is an impossible cover for anyone.
Indiana - Turner and Sabonis start together, so you're right here as well, but Indy seems like it's trying to ditch Turner because playing that big hasn't helped them.
Atlanta - John Collins is an inch taller than Tatum and almost never plays out of the post.
So you listed 2 teams, in the entire NBA.
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