Tatum’s False Idol

[W8ting2McHale]

I think Kobe is/was Tatum’s idol, and I see the Carmelo comparisons too. That was the fear when he was drafted, that Carmelo was his ceiling. And perhaps he is basically Carmelo at his peak right now, but I think he’s still got time and the talent to grow past that. The can still be leaps in his game, they’ll just be smaller now.

I wished he would model his game after Durant. I saw him as a Durant-lite coming in, but Durant attacks the basket with much more force and he doesn’t let double teams bother him. Tatum is still learning how to deal with double teams. When he passes the ball it seems more like a last resort than a concerted effort to engage his teammates.

While Durant is taller, another player someone should introduce Tatum to is George “Iceman” Gervin. He was 6’7” and silky smooth, whether shooting from outside or driving past 3 defenders for a finger roll shot at the rim.

Both Durant and Gervin had outside-inside games and got a lot of and-ones. Tatum taking weak shots at the rim and complaining when he doesn’t get the call is his biggest flaw to me. Brown used to be accused of driving to the rim without a plan, but at least he went hard.

[18isGREATERthan72]

From watching Tatum, it feels to me like one of his biggest issues is slow decision making.  The last 5 games or so, he's actually seemed to be passing out of doubles much quicker, which is a really good sign, but what I'd really like to see more from him is attacking off the catch.  So many times he catches the ball with his defender in bad position, and he just waits for them to recover to him, then he proceeds to go into his bag and shoot a side step three, which hasn't been working for him this season.

[Who]

From watching Tatum, it feels to me like one of his biggest issues is slow decision making.  The last 5 games or so, he's actually seemed to be passing out of doubles much quicker, which is a really good sign, but what I'd really like to see more from him is attacking off the catch.  So many times he catches the ball with his defender in bad position, and he just waits for them to recover to him, then he proceeds to go into his bag and shoot a side step three, which hasn't been working for him this season.

Melo was the same way.

[Rosco917]

If you listened closely to the game in LA, you heard how Tatum wanted to be Kobe and play for the Lakers when he grew up. If you asked him while in college who his favorite team was, I'd bet my house that he'd tell you the Lakers.

When Jayson's contract runs out in three years, he'll become a Laker.

[#1P4P]

JT looks more like McGrady than Kobe. His best comp is Rashard Lewis; similar measurements and movement except Tatum has star qualities that Lewis did not. He was starting for a team with title aspirations as a rookie and outperformed his role and expectations on a 50 win team while leading it in the playoffs.

Jayson's 8th in Usage, he's deliberate not passive. It seems like he tries to mesmerize or lull defenders to sleep too often and it's not conducive for a fluid offense. He should take a page out of Lewis' book, learn how to spot up shoot, move without the ball, and generally get into his moves quicker.

He's 23 in a league where players don't reach their primes until their mid 20's, any judgments as if he's sentenced to this version of himself is foolish.

[GreenlyGreeny]

JT should just model himself after KD. That simple. He’s poised to be the new KD in 2-3 years.

[Who]

JT should just model himself after KD. That simple. He’s poised to be the new KD in 2-3 years.

Durant and Kawhi are the two best examples for Tatum to follow as scoring orientated SFs who are prolific and lean heavily on their jump-shooting prowess.

Many of the other all-time great SFs have different games. Either less lethal jump-shooters, less prolific scorers or more well-rounded games in terms of playmaking and the ability to create for others.

Durant and Kawhi are the two top players whose skill-sets resemble Tatum the closest.

[dannyboy35]

From watching Tatum, it feels to me like one of his biggest issues is slow decision making.  The last 5 games or so, he's actually seemed to be passing out of doubles much quicker, which is a really good sign, but what I'd really like to see more from him is attacking off the catch.  So many times he catches the ball with his defender in bad position, and he just waits for them to recover to him, then he proceeds to go into his bag and shoot a side step three, which hasn't been working for him this season.

  I’ve been saying this for years. He’s not instinctive like a Pierce or a Kevin McHale where he can react on a whim . It’s rehearsed moves. But improving dribbling cures this. Takes a lot of hard , boring work. Until then its just gonna be in game reps and a slower improvement. He’ll get stronger as he’s sone already snd thsg will help too . But it’s all whether he works on his handle.