What Constitutes "The Jump?"

[nyceltsfan]

I am just wondering what everyone's opinion is on the following.  Assume we do not sign Kyrie and we do not trade for Davis.  I have advocated that the best path forward (with or without Kyrie) is to make Tatum the focal point of the offense and make him a legitimate 20-25 ppg scorer.

How will we know that he has "arrived" (or Brown, for that matter) as a bona fide superstar?  Is that feeling governed by statistics, by wins and losses or by something else?  We constantly get hung up on players that are worthy of being the #1 (or #2) option on a championship team.  Is it possible that this becomes Horford's team, but Tatum is the #1 option?  If so, has Tatum "arrived"?

I understand this is all semantics, but I thought it would be a fun topic to debate.

[Donoghus]

It's tough to quantify with numbers, I think.

Much more along the lines of "I'll know it when I see it".   So, essentially, the eyeball test.

[footey]

IMO, most acknowledge "the Jump" when the player hits 20 PPG. Simplistic, but reality.

[PhoSita]

When Tatum is providing consistent, efficient, well-rounded production as the first or second scoring option on the team and the team is winning, that's when I would say he's made "the jump."

He needs to be able to lock in and give the team what it needs on a nightly basis.  He can't look like a superstar one night and then kind of float through the game and pick his spots another night. 


He also needs to be more of a regular presence on defense and make an impact either on the boards or creating for others.



So like Donoghus said, it's not one thing and you can't point to a single metric to say he's made it.  Points per game alone won't do it.

It's kind of an overall "Is he the guy now?" thing.

[nyceltsfan]

I guess if we see the Celtics in the middle of the eastern conference playoff standings (4-6 seed) and Tatum is averaging more than 20 a game, that should do it and put him in a status greater than he has now.

I would hope that we see Tatum turn into something like Oladipo's first year in Indiana this coming year.

[tazzmaniac]

It depends on what your definition of superstar is.  I think Tatum tops out at the Pierce level and I don't think Pierce was ever a superstar.  Scoring 20-25 points doesn't make you a superstar.  Being an allstar doesn't make you a superstar.  Being on all-NBA team doesn't make you a superstar. 

[Celtics4ever]

I honestly don't know if he has it in him.   Greats don't regress, and although his numbers went up last year, he did not live up to the hype for whatever reason.   I hope I am wrong about it, sometimes he shows signs like when he dunked on LeBron, etc. but it is clear that mentality is not not constant.   Some of this is on Stevens, no one gets taken out of a game more than when he was hot more than Tatum.    This needs to stop and Brad needs to quit over coaching a preserve guys.

[nyceltsfan]

I honestly don't know if he has it in him.   Greats don't regress, and although his numbers went up last year, he did not live up to the hype for whatever reason.   I hope I am wrong about it, sometimes he shows signs like when he dunked on LeBron, etc. but it is clear that mentality is not not constant.   Some of this is on Stevens, no one gets taken out of a game more than when he was hot more than Tatum.    This needs to stop and Brad needs to quit over coaching a preserve guys.

I think the problem is that if a guy shows the potential, the team (including the coaching staff) has to make a concerted effort to make that guy "The Guy."  Unless that guy is the point guard and main ball handler, someone has to get him the ball and let him go to work.  In the last year, Kyrie was the guy going to work and everyone else was trying to get open, while getting iso opportunities sparsely.  Stevens will have to beef up his playbook to run more plays for Tatum to get him involved early and often.  Tatum will then have to sink or swim, but I don't think it is fair to say he regressed last year because with the potential that he showed in his first year, he was not given the opportunity to progress.

[Chief Macho]

I honestly don't know if he has it in him.   Greats don't regress, and although his numbers went up last year, he did not live up to the hype for whatever reason.   I hope I am wrong about it, sometimes he shows signs like when he dunked on LeBron, etc. but it is clear that mentality is not not constant.   Some of this is on Stevens, no one gets taken out of a game more than when he was hot more than Tatum.    This needs to stop and Brad needs to quit over coaching a preserve guys.

he  " regressed" yet all his numbers were better.  might want to reconsider that narrative.

[CF033]

I honestly don't know if he has it in him.   Greats don't regress, and although his numbers went up last year, he did not live up to the hype for whatever reason.   I hope I am wrong about it, sometimes he shows signs like when he dunked on LeBron, etc. but it is clear that mentality is not not constant.   Some of this is on Stevens, no one gets taken out of a game more than when he was hot more than Tatum.    This needs to stop and Brad needs to quit over coaching a preserve guys.

Well his amazing playoff run was without Kyrie in the mix controlling the basketball. It'll be interesting to see if he returns to that with Kyrie most likely moving on from the Celtics.

Although depending on what Ainge does with the AD trade it could be in a Pelicans uniform (I hope not).

[moiso]

I honestly don't know if he has it in him.   Greats don't regress, and although his numbers went up last year, he did not live up to the hype for whatever reason.   I hope I am wrong about it, sometimes he shows signs like when he dunked on LeBron, etc. but it is clear that mentality is not not constant.   Some of this is on Stevens, no one gets taken out of a game more than when he was hot more than Tatum.    This needs to stop and Brad needs to quit over coaching a preserve guys.

he  " regressed" yet all his numbers were better.  might want to reconsider that narrative.

Shooting percentages are numbers too.

[RazzelnoDazzel]

When you see it, you will know. When you watch them play they are oozing with confidence and it’s hard to not see.

[Celtics4ever]

he  " regressed" yet all his numbers were better.  might want to reconsider that narrative.

Your kidding yourself if you think people were not disappointed that he did not take a bigger leap forward after a promising rookie season.

[SHAQATTACK]

I honestly don't know if he has it in him.   Greats don't regress, and although his numbers went up last year, he did not live up to the hype for whatever reason.   I hope I am wrong about it, sometimes he shows signs like when he dunked on LeBron, etc. but it is clear that mentality is not not constant.   Some of this is on Stevens, no one gets taken out of a game more than when he was hot more than Tatum.    This needs to stop and Brad needs to quit over coaching a preserve guys.

Stevens is the ICE KING of coaching .   A guy finds an insane groove , you let them PLAY aLL DAY at 21 yrs old .  That tuffens em up good.  Kids love to play

CBS dribes me crazy pulling our young players when they are destroying the other team.   He d pull em , put in ice cold players and the lead goes away and so does the mojo .

Stevens is run killer .

[LarBrd33]

current-level Tatum can easily be a 20ppg scorer on a bad team.  Still a decent chance he makes a leap as well.