Hint that Tatum may not be happy

[Who]

I don't see it but I do see the foundation being built here for Tatum to become discontented in the near future. Kemba Walker is a high usage shot happy PG who will take opportunities away from Tatum. Hayward should improve over last season and be closer to he was before the injury. That will take opportunities away from Tatum.

Tatum will do well here next to these two guys but I don't think he will flourish / excel next to them. I believe he needs more opportunities in the offense. More touches. More opportunities to experiment as a scorer, ball-handler and playmaker. More room to find himself in this league. To develop his game.

And I do not think he is going to get that next to these other players that Ainge has put together.

I can see a frustration building within Tatum (and Jaylen Brown) over the next year or two. There is just too much redundancy on this team. Too many medium efficiency 20ppg scorers (4 of them). Too much overlap (3 star SFs). Role players who will need touches & shots (Kanter, Edwards ... to a lesser degree, Smart & G-Williams). This team is horribly badly balanced.

There is a framework in place here for unhappiness to develop.

It hasn't developed yet. I do not think Tatum or anyone else is unhappy.

But I do think those days will come if Ainge doesn't sort out this badly constructed roster in the next 12-18 months.

Tell me, what happens when scorers, especially very young ones, are placed on teams with a bunch of low usage players that can't create shots?

Havent we seen THAT type of situation, time and time again, lead to frustration?


Let's be real. Anything could result in the players being unhappy, especially if the team isn't winning a lot of games.

Let's not pretend that we can predict how these players are gonna feel.

Too little is a problem.
Too much is a problem.

You want something in between.

Room to grow but enough support there to help them where (ball-handling, passing) and when they need it.

[ETNCeltics]

I don't see it but I do see the foundation being built here for Tatum to become discontented in the near future. Kemba Walker is a high usage shot happy PG who will take opportunities away from Tatum. Hayward should improve over last season and be closer to he was before the injury. That will take opportunities away from Tatum.

Tatum will do well here next to these two guys but I don't think he will flourish / excel next to them. I believe he needs more opportunities in the offense. More touches. More opportunities to experiment as a scorer, ball-handler and playmaker. More room to find himself in this league. To develop his game.

And I do not think he is going to get that next to these other players that Ainge has put together.

I can see a frustration building within Tatum (and Jaylen Brown) over the next year or two. There is just too much redundancy on this team. Too many medium efficiency 20ppg scorers (4 of them). Too much overlap (3 star SFs). Role players who will need touches & shots (Kanter, Edwards ... to a lesser degree, Smart & G-Williams). This team is horribly badly balanced.

There is a framework in place here for unhappiness to develop.

It hasn't developed yet. I do not think Tatum or anyone else is unhappy.

But I do think those days will come if Ainge doesn't sort out this badly constructed roster in the next 12-18 months.

Kemba Walker is "shot happy". That's an unfair statement.

[PhoSita]

Too little is a problem.
Too much is a problem.

You want something in between.

Room to grow but enough support there to help them where (ball-handling, passing) and when they need it.

Yeah, I just think it's way too soon to jump to the conclusions you're making.


Also, we have seen that NBA players these days, especially ones who fancy themselves stars, are super mercurial and it's impossible to predict what will make them happy or unhappy.


It's up to Brad to try to get the chemistry right this season.


There are a lot of offensive minded players on the roster right now, but many of them are slated for a smaller role.  I don't think Carsen Edwards is going to be the reason Tatum doesn't get enough touches.  Enes Kanter only plays half the game at most and isn't a guy who has the ball in his hands much.  He's a garbage man on offense.



If Kemba dribbles the air out of the ball and Hayward dominates all of the secondary playmaking responsibilities, I could see that maybe becoming an issue.


As long as Brad calls plenty of plays for Tatum and treats him like the #1 or #2 (maybe 1b) offensive option next to Kemba, Tatum shouldn't have any real reasons to be upset.


Of course, as I said before, just because there aren't any good reasons for the player to be upset doesn't mean he won't.  It's really not possible to say now other than the fact that winning games tends to keep players satisfied at least in the short term, while losing (or winning less than anticipated) brings out all of the misgivings that might otherwise be kept quiet.

[bopna]

Dog days of the off-season.

Just let em have a life outside of work...

Tatum is a 21 y/o who is patiently working his way towards being an alpha... Something Kawhi took time to do while he was with the Spurs but eventually took over... Same can be said between him and JB... They need to take a backseat while Kemba and GH are at their prime.. FF in 2 to 3 yrs the old timers take secondary role to the Js... Its what Danny plans all along.

[RJ87]

Too much overlap (3 star SFs).

Stars? Really? I just... I'm sorry, I don't see that in their current levels of play.

If anything, there's an air of entitlement at that position. All those guys expect to be starters and/or get big minutes, whether they deserve it or not (although you can make an argument in Jaylen's favor in that regard given his turnaround at the end of last season). That's why I hope we go into training camp with guys ready to compete for their roles. If Gordon shows up and he's ready to be the 2nd scoring option we need behind Kemba, you give it to him. But if Brad's boy still isn't ready and Tatum looks the part, give it to him. Likewise, if Tatum comes in doing his worst Kobe impression but Jaylen looks ready to take the leap, make him your guy. But if Jaylen is mentally AWOL to start the season again, then Smart should start over him. The way I see it, Kemba is the only surefire starter on this roster. Maybe even Kanter. Everyone else should have to earn it.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I've never understood (or maybe I understand but just disagree) what people mean when they say they don't want so-and-so on the Celtics because that would "take shots away from Tatum and Brown." Do they want, or expect, Brown and Tatum to be able to take 25-30 shots a game each? Is 15-20 not enough?

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I may have overlooked the answer but what did he say to Rob last season on Twitter or IG? What did he say to the few guys who joined prior to last season?

Why not say things to guys you will see less often? Everyone on the team he can speak to directly. I have heard multiple players talk about being close with someone on the team but when they leave they rarely see them unless it's a best friend situation.


Tatum has been very quiet on social media this offseason, he was very active both seasons prior. His team is just starting to put out little snippets of video and pics with him, but other than that it's been very quiet from him aside from his camp stuff.

[Diggles]

I just realized how much we love to speculate on our favorite sports teams and players.   Almost as much as people like to talk about their favorite soap shows.   

[Boris Badenov]

Our bench is really thin and doesn't have one decent, established NBA scorer on it.

I think this means (a) we should see minutes go up for Tatum and Brown especially, as they're the youngest and starters and are also versatile. And (b), Tatum and Brown will often find themselves playing with bench units where they will be the primary offensive option.

[ETNCeltics]

Our bench is really thin and doesn't have one decent, established NBA scorer on it.

You could say the same about most NBA teams.

Bench isn't really relevant, insofar as starting this guy or that one. You'll almost always see 2-3 starters on the floor with 2-3 reserves. It'll be a rare case where you see 5 reserves playing at once, other than at garbage time.

[tenn_smoothie]

I don't see it but I do see the foundation being built here for Tatum to become discontented in the near future. Kemba Walker is a high usage shot happy PG who will take opportunities away from Tatum.

Tatum will do well here next to these two guys but I don't think he will flourish / excel next to them. I believe he needs more opportunities in the offense. More touches. More opportunities to experiment as a scorer, ball-handler and playmaker. More room to find himself in this league. To develop his game.

Which is why I think the Celts should have found a playmaker-deluxe point guard to replace Irving & Rozier. Invest the cap savings in more talented, athletic post players and sign a Korver-type knock down shooter on the cheap. Our strength is our wings, so get the ball moving again. I am much happier with Kemba instead of Kyrie, but he is still a ball-dominant style point guard.

[GreenFaith1819]

I'm unhappy, too.

I asked my agent today to trade me to our hated enemies The Los Angeles Lakers.

I demand to be on their Fandom Bandwagon. It is growing larger by the second.

I haven't posted on here in about a week and that should've been the telltale sign.

I'm demanding The Fakers - I mean "Lakers" -  give up TEN of their soon-to-be unhappy fans (give it until about January / Febuary 2020, just wait and see). They also need to pony up a movie star (or two) for my services as a Laker fan.

I'm also demanding a mural be painted of me on their largest / most visible building in LA...free snickers bars and peanut butter cups for EVERY game and FREE TICKETS to every DC and Marvel movie that comes out over the next 10 years.

I'm a GREAT fan.










SIKE.

[Who]

I've never understood (or maybe I understand but just disagree) what people mean when they say they don't want so-and-so on the Celtics because that would "take shots away from Tatum and Brown." Do they want, or expect, Brown and Tatum to be able to take 25-30 shots a game each? Is 15-20 not enough?

15-20 is plenty but they aren't going to get that.

They are going to get 12-14 FGAs.

[Who]

Too much overlap (3 star SFs).

Stars? Really? I just... I'm sorry, I don't see that in their current levels of play.

If anything, there's an air of entitlement at that position. All those guys expect to be starters and/or get big minutes, whether they deserve it or not (although you can make an argument in Jaylen's favor in that regard given his turnaround at the end of last season). That's why I hope we go into training camp with guys ready to compete for their roles. If Gordon shows up and he's ready to be the 2nd scoring option we need behind Kemba, you give it to him. But if Brad's boy still isn't ready and Tatum looks the part, give it to him. Likewise, if Tatum comes in doing his worst Kobe impression but Jaylen looks ready to take the leap, make him your guy. But if Jaylen is mentally AWOL to start the season again, then Smart should start over him. The way I see it, Kemba is the only surefire starter on this roster. Maybe even Kanter. Everyone else should have to earn it.

This is how I look at those guys:

Jaylen Brown = at his current level of play, is already able to be the 3rd best player on a title contender. He is a star. He doesn't get enough credit. His play warrants more attention than he gets.

Gordon Hayward = not ready to rule him out as a star yet. We'll see what he has to offer next year. If he is dud again like last year, then I'll write him off as a star. And those concerns I have with Tatum and Jaylen getting enough offensive opportunities will be out the door as well. But I am going to wait until a couple of months into the season before I make that call. For now, he is still a star. Based on his past level of performances rather than his current ones.

Jayson Tatum = he is a star in name more than play. You can see the way people talk about him. Kemba saying Tatum was a big reason why he joined the team. The way Kyrie Irving talked about Tatum. The way other league executives talk about Tatum. Tatum is a star. His play on the court isn't there yet but he is a star anyway because of what his future offers.

[Celtics4ever]

I demand to be on their Fandom Bandwagon. It is growing larger by the second.

Don't you mean Fairweather Fan Bandwagon because that is what LA Fans are.....Leave early when they are behind and claim five titles won outside their state in Minny.