Tatum is starting to figure it out

[footey]

I have been really impressed with the progress in Tatum's overall game this season.  He has become a much better distributor. He has a better understanding how to take advantage when teams double and triple team him, and makes plays for his teammates. He is learning how to take it to the  paint more.  He also continues to be an elite scorer.  He is  just becoming a better basketball player overall.  I was pretty hard on him last season when he seemed to just pound the ball without a purpose many times. I don't see that guy anymore.  I see a player intent on improving his overall game. His defense remains stellar; actually, it seems even better, perhaps the added strength giving him more presence.  Tatum seems to be trending to the type of value one sees in a prime Kawhi Leonard.  Just loving the development.

Although he struggled badly the first two games, especially game 1, I could already see his intent to make the right play.

Keep it going, Tatum!!

[Vermont Green]

I am not one of the Trade Tatum voices but Tatum does still have some work to do on his game.  The two things I think everyone agreed on that Tatum needed to improve was get to the line more and handle the double teams better (less iso).  So far his FTA per game are down from last year (4.3 vs 5.3), his assists are up slightly (4.5 vs. 4.3) while his overall FG attempts are up (24.0 vs. 20.6).

I don't believe that assists are a true measure of anything but I am not seeing him handle the double teams any better so far.  Plus he is taking more shots.  This does not add up to improved distribution so far to me.

FTA are FTA and they are down even though his minutes and shots are up.

This is just the very beginning of a new season, new team, new coach so I am not concerned about Tatum but he is still a work in progress.

[nebist]

I am not one of the Trade Tatum voices but Tatum does still have some work to do on his game.  The two things I think everyone agreed on that Tatum needed to improve was get to the line more and handle the double teams better (less iso).  So far his FTA per game are down from last year (4.3 vs 5.3), his assists are up slightly (4.5 vs. 4.3) while his overall FG attempts are up (24.0 vs. 20.6).

I don't believe that assists are a true measure of anything but I am not seeing him handle the double teams any better so far.  Plus he is taking more shots.  This does not add up to improved distribution so far to me.

FTA are FTA and they are down even though his minutes and shots are up.

This is just the very beginning of a new season, new team, new coach so I am not concerned about Tatum but he is still a work in progress.

The fact that there are any "trade Tatum" voices is an embarrassment. Anyone who says that is exposing just incredibly poor basketball judgment. Unless you're talking about fantasy-land trades like Tatum for Giannis or Luka. In terms of current production, Tatum is a top 9-20 talent in the league (being conservative). Between age, talent, and production Tatum is in the top 5 of least tradeable players in the league.

[footey]

I am not one of the Trade Tatum voices but Tatum does still have some work to do on his game.  The two things I think everyone agreed on that Tatum needed to improve was get to the line more and handle the double teams better (less iso).  So far his FTA per game are down from last year (4.3 vs 5.3), his assists are up slightly (4.5 vs. 4.3) while his overall FG attempts are up (24.0 vs. 20.6).

I don't believe that assists are a true measure of anything but I am not seeing him handle the double teams any better so far.  Plus he is taking more shots.  This does not add up to improved distribution so far to me.

FTA are FTA and they are down even though his minutes and shots are up.

This is just the very beginning of a new season, new team, new coach so I am not concerned about Tatum but he is still a work in progress.

I would not get hung up on lack of free throw attempts; that seems to be a league wide trend (see Harden) due to ref adjustments so far this season.  They are allowing for a more physical game.

Am surprised you don't see a guy trying to get his teammates more involved this season. His intent to do so seems quite clear to me. Not a finished product, but trending that way.

[RJD1974]

I am not one of the Trade Tatum voices but Tatum does still have some work to do on his game.  The two things I think everyone agreed on that Tatum needed to improve was get to the line more and handle the double teams better (less iso).  So far his FTA per game are down from last year (4.3 vs 5.3), his assists are up slightly (4.5 vs. 4.3) while his overall FG attempts are up (24.0 vs. 20.6).

I don't believe that assists are a true measure of anything but I am not seeing him handle the double teams any better so far.  Plus he is taking more shots.  This does not add up to improved distribution so far to me.

FTA are FTA and they are down even though his minutes and shots are up.

This is just the very beginning of a new season, new team, new coach so I am not concerned about Tatum but he is still a work in progress.

FTs are down across the board this year with the new emphasis on contact. Harden's have dropped by 6 or so a game.

[action781]

I am not one of the Trade Tatum voices but Tatum does still have some work to do on his game.  The two things I think everyone agreed on that Tatum needed to improve was get to the line more and handle the double teams better (less iso).  So far his FTA per game are down from last year (4.3 vs 5.3), his assists are up slightly (4.5 vs. 4.3) while his overall FG attempts are up (24.0 vs. 20.6).

I don't believe that assists are a true measure of anything but I am not seeing him handle the double teams any better so far.  Plus he is taking more shots.  This does not add up to improved distribution so far to me.

FTA are FTA and they are down even though his minutes and shots are up.

This is just the very beginning of a new season, new team, new coach so I am not concerned about Tatum but he is still a work in progress.

We should note that he has played in 4 games so far and there have been 3 OT periods in those 4 games.  On a per 100 possession basis, last season he shot 28.1 fga per 100 and this season he's shooting 29.8 fga per 100 so far.  It's an increase, but not an absurd one.  Especially in a season after we shipped out a high usage point guard.  I expect his fga to be in the 28-30 per 100 range this season.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

The reality that I've had to accept is that Jaylen Brown is and will likely always be better at getting to the rim than Jayson Tatum. Tatum is just more of a jump shooter. That doesn't mean he can't manage the pick-and-roll. It just means that the most awkward part of his game is always around the rim. He gets blocked a lot by similar sized or smaller players. He can't finish over people if he doesn't get the opportunity to load up. He struggles with the nuances of getting contact to draw fouls.

I love Tatum in the high post and his height and developing vision makes him a really valuable pick-and-roll ball handler. When you combine those factors with that deadly mid-range fall away and his step-back threes, he's an amazing talent. But the reality is that his driving is mediocre for a player of his size with his usage rate.

In this way, he reminds me a lot of Kevin Durant-lite. Durant was good at drawing fouls going to the rim (Tatum is not), but he always looked more comfortable outside.

The one thing about this that gives me pause is that he has always been able to draw fouls and finish on drives in big games, especially in the playoffs. I just don't understand why that is. Maybe it's the intensity with which he plays. Maybe it's that defenders are more aggressive in the playoffs and Tatum is able to beat them with his craftiness easier.

[wdleehi]

I am not one of the Trade Tatum voices but Tatum does still have some work to do on his game.  The two things I think everyone agreed on that Tatum needed to improve was get to the line more and handle the double teams better (less iso).  So far his FTA per game are down from last year (4.3 vs 5.3), his assists are up slightly (4.5 vs. 4.3) while his overall FG attempts are up (24.0 vs. 20.6).

I don't believe that assists are a true measure of anything but I am not seeing him handle the double teams any better so far.  Plus he is taking more shots.  This does not add up to improved distribution so far to me.

FTA are FTA and they are down even though his minutes and shots are up.

This is just the very beginning of a new season, new team, new coach so I am not concerned about Tatum but he is still a work in progress.

FTs are down across the board this year with the new emphasis on contact. Harden's have dropped by 6 or so a game.

Tre Young is down to 5.3 FTA per game.

[Vermont Green]

I am not one of the Trade Tatum voices but Tatum does still have some work to do on his game.  The two things I think everyone agreed on that Tatum needed to improve was get to the line more and handle the double teams better (less iso).  So far his FTA per game are down from last year (4.3 vs 5.3), his assists are up slightly (4.5 vs. 4.3) while his overall FG attempts are up (24.0 vs. 20.6).

I don't believe that assists are a true measure of anything but I am not seeing him handle the double teams any better so far.  Plus he is taking more shots.  This does not add up to improved distribution so far to me.

FTA are FTA and they are down even though his minutes and shots are up.

This is just the very beginning of a new season, new team, new coach so I am not concerned about Tatum but he is still a work in progress.

FTs are down across the board this year with the new emphasis on contact. Harden's have dropped by 6 or so a game.

Tre Young is down to 5.3 FTA per game.

I agree with all the points made relative to Tatum.  I love Tatum and I support building the team around him.  I think he is trying and is making some good passes but still doesn't trust that approach during crunch time.  Last night, after a defensive rebound, they gave him the ball in the back court and all he did is dribble around, a double came, he still forced a shot, and so on.  He will make some of those shots but he didn't demonstrate to me that he (a) had a plan for the double team, and (b) trusted that he could give up the ball and get a better shot for someone else.

It is coming.  A work in progress.

[Big333223]

Small sample blah blah blah...

Through these first few games, Tatum is #34 in the league in FTA's per game and #1 in FGA's. That disparity is bad. Tatum has to be finding ways to get himself easier shots. His improvement as a playmaker is terrific but the other thing he was supposedly working on this summer - getting downhill and attacking the basket to get to the line - has not materialized yet.

That said, are there really people who want to trade Tatum? Because that's insane.

[dannyboy35]

The reality that I've had to accept is that Jaylen Brown is and will likely always be better at getting to the rim than Jayson Tatum. Tatum is just more of a jump shooter. That doesn't mean he can't manage the pick-and-roll. It just means that the most awkward part of his game is always around the rim. He gets blocked a lot by similar sized or smaller players. He can't finish over people if he doesn't get the opportunity to load up. He struggles with the nuances of getting contact to draw fouls.

I love Tatum in the high post and his height and developing vision makes him a really valuable pick-and-roll ball handler. When you combine those factors with that deadly mid-range fall away and his step-back threes, he's an amazing talent. But the reality is that his driving is mediocre for a player of his size with his usage rate.

In this way, he reminds me a lot of Kevin Durant-lite. Durant was good at drawing fouls going to the rim (Tatum is not), but he always looked more comfortable outside.

The one thing about this that gives me pause is that he has always been able to draw fouls and finish on drives in big games, especially in the playoffs. I just don't understand why that is. Maybe it's the intensity with which he plays. Maybe it's that defenders are more aggressive in the playoffs and Tatum is able to beat them with his craftiness easier.

    I think you may be right about getting to the hoop. It’s hard for me to see such improvement in JB’s handle and what Tatum could be if he worked hard on that particular part of his game. Tatum is a great difficult shot maker and that’s always required from a superstar but better handle snd he becomes the best offensive player in the nba . Doesn’t have to be amazing either. It should just get noticeably much better and it really hasn’t. Everywhere else I feel like he’s better.

[gouki88]

Small sample blah blah blah...

Through these first few games, Tatum is #34 in the league in FTA's per game and #1 in FGA's. That disparity is bad. Tatum has to be finding ways to get himself easier shots. His improvement as a playmaker is terrific but the other thing he was supposedly working on this summer - getting downhill and attacking the basket to get to the line - has not materialized yet.

That said, are there really people who want to trade Tatum? Because that's insane.

The rule emphasis changes that have been introduced have basically made the top free throw shooters all guys who don't/can't shoot threes until you get to 10th and below, where Durant, Curry and Brogdon start to appear.

Harrison Barnes is the obvious exception, but I don't think it's likely that he's going to maintain his 28PPG average.