Jayson Tatum looks fantastic - breakout season?

[Valid]

Not sure people here realize this, so I figured I would point it out: Tatum has a plus-17.3 net rating this season.

PLUS-17.3.

That is unreal. Kid is a monster.

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I’m gonna say it: JT is a better defender than Brown.

Sure Jaylen LOOKS the part. And has flashes where he really locks down when he’s on ball, ala Avery Bradley. But JT is a better help defender, is more active in passing lanes, alters more shots due to his length, and at times, is a better on ball defender.

We’re really fortunate this guy is in green

I disagree strongly and agree strongly with different parts of this.

I think Tatum is probably a better help defender, but I kind of think most the time he is below average on ball. I see him get dusted too much off the dribble or bodied too often down low because he needs to add strength. Even the shots he blocked last game were all because the guy easily got around him and he was lucky enough that the guy pulled up short of the rim allowing him to recovery. There's a reason Jaylen is more often on the better offensive players, its because he's better at moving his feet against quicker guys. I think Tatum is better at playing passing lanes for sure, but I see Jaylen make more on ball steals than Tatum does. I think Jaylens agility/strength make him more versatile.

All that said what Tatum does he does very well, and he's better defensively right now than I thought he would be when we drafted him.

Key here is your comment that Brown is often put on the better offensive player as well as the larger player because in starting situations its Brown that is usually guarding the 4s. Tatum just isn't physical enough for most 4s while Brown clearly is.

Also, Brad has Tatum usually playing a bunch of minutes every game being the main cog against the opposition's bench crew. So again, is playing a lot of minutes against less talented individuals.

That said, Tatum's defense is really good and getting better every month. Because of his length and playing the passing lanes more than Brown, Tatum is probably a better team defender while if a star has the ball and is looking to do something, you probably want Brown in front of that guy before Tatum.

Picking at straws here. They both rule and I am ecstatic to have two top notch defenders who are a bit different and who excel in different ways. It makes the team so much more dangerous.

Agreed completely, I really like how Tatum and Brown complement each other. Brown can guard the teams best guy on defense and cover for Tatum's (relative) weakness there, while Tatum can cerate just about any shot on offense covering for Browns (relative) weakness there. Not that both guys can't do both, but not HAVING to do both means you maximize the final output. I think the c's have the best young wing tandem in the league.

Going by the eye test only, last year it felt like Tatum was worse defensively than in his rookie year.  His first year he seemed like he was more committed to playing def, making the extra effort, scrambling to close outs, more hustle.  His 2nd year (last year) it seemed like he didn't have that same commitment on a nightly basis, and he would over react to a perceived bad call on the offensive end and it would effect him getting back on def.

THIS year it feels like to me he got back to rookie year Tatum def effort.  It has been a really great turn around.  He doesn't have the natural quickness that Brown has, and so will get beat sometimes because he just isn't that quick, but he has been using his natural defensive smarts and his length to be a game changer at times on D.  He is getting tons of blocks, steals, forcing bad plays on the other team. 

[tstorey_97]

Don't know how high he will go, but, his stats indicate the arc continuing. I beefed about him playing with Popovich this summer, but, i think experiences like that help a young player.

Assists to me reveal a great deal about maturity and commitment to the team. Good players know what they can do and also, what they can't. There are plenty of top players who achieved little in the NBA beyond putting up stats....Tatum can ask Kemba how rewarding that is.

Three year assist totals (1st) 128 - (2nd) 168 - 233 (pjctd this season)
Three year steal totals (1st) 83 -- (2nd) 84 -- 112 (prjctd this season)

Playing on defense is what great stars do probably because good defense wins titles.

Kemba has played his butt off on defense and I'm sure that example has helped everyone else including Tatum.

It is interesting how Stevens has given Tatum the "ball with the bench". He is still ball dominant with the bench, but, his game has improved.

[Sophomore]

I’m gonna say it: JT is a better defender than Brown.

Sure Jaylen LOOKS the part. And has flashes where he really locks down when he’s on ball, ala Avery Bradley. But JT is a better help defender, is more active in passing lanes, alters more shots due to his length, and at times, is a better on ball defender.

We’re really fortunate this guy is in green

I disagree strongly and agree strongly with different parts of this.

I think Tatum is probably a better help defender, but I kind of think most the time he is below average on ball. I see him get dusted too much off the dribble or bodied too often down low because he needs to add strength. Even the shots he blocked last game were all because the guy easily got around him and he was lucky enough that the guy pulled up short of the rim allowing him to recovery. There's a reason Jaylen is more often on the better offensive players, its because he's better at moving his feet against quicker guys. I think Tatum is better at playing passing lanes for sure, but I see Jaylen make more on ball steals than Tatum does. I think Jaylens agility/strength make him more versatile.

All that said what Tatum does he does very well, and he's better defensively right now than I thought he would be when we drafted him.

Key here is your comment that Brown is often put on the better offensive player as well as the larger player because in starting situations its Brown that is usually guarding the 4s. Tatum just isn't physical enough for most 4s while Brown clearly is.

Also, Brad has Tatum usually playing a bunch of minutes every game being the main cog against the opposition's bench crew. So again, is playing a lot of minutes against less talented individuals.

That said, Tatum's defense is really good and getting better every month. Because of his length and playing the passing lanes more than Brown, Tatum is probably a better team defender while if a star has the ball and is looking to do something, you probably want Brown in front of that guy before Tatum.

Picking at straws here. They both rule and I am ecstatic to have two top notch defenders who are a bit different and who excel in different ways. It makes the team so much more dangerous.

Agreed completely, I really like how Tatum and Brown complement each other. Brown can guard the teams best guy on defense and cover for Tatum's (relative) weakness there, while Tatum can cerate just about any shot on offense covering for Browns (relative) weakness there. Not that both guys can't do both, but not HAVING to do both means you maximize the final output. I think the c's have the best young wing tandem in the league.

Going by the eye test only, last year it felt like Tatum was worse defensively than in his rookie year.  His first year he seemed like he was more committed to playing def, making the extra effort, scrambling to close outs, more hustle.  His 2nd year (last year) it seemed like he didn't have that same commitment on a nightly basis, and he would over react to a perceived bad call on the offensive end and it would effect him getting back on def.

THIS year it feels like to me he got back to rookie year Tatum def effort.  It has been a really great turn around.  He doesn't have the natural quickness that Brown has, and so will get beat sometimes because he just isn't that quick, but he has been using his natural defensive smarts and his length to be a game changer at times on D.  He is getting tons of blocks, steals, forcing bad plays on the other team.

Seeing the same thing. I especially appreciate that if he’s switched onto most 2s and even some 1s he’s quick enough to maintain contact and then his length is really a problem for them. Davonte Graham was a recent example.