Jayson Tatum looks fantastic - breakout season?

[Tr1boy]

I liked how he took his time near the net yesterday

Either dunk it or stop and upfake are his best options

He will get max for sure

If a guy like Tobias Harris got max. Tatum is an easy max

[Monkhouse]

I feel like Tatum is a lot more confident when his shots are falling. Even when they aren't, he still ends up shooting himself out of a funk, but the problem is he resorts to really terrible fadeaways or tough shot selections.

I think someone like him could really benefit from the same trainer or fitness expert as Giannis, because Tatum could really become someone special.

I know people are down on his FG, TS%, and 3P%. But he's pretty much been better in every other statistical category across the board, and that is something we cannot just ignore.

I also know that people are assuming Tatum is the fulcrum of the offense, or the go-to-guy, but while he's averaging the most FGA, it's not by much. Kemba and Brown are only 2-3 FGA behind, which means the entire offense is clicking because everyone is getting a chance to shoot/score.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Jayson Tatum has the highest DRPM among power fowards and the sixth highest among all players, behind Dunn, Barton, Butler, Leonard, and James.

[nickagneta]

Jayson Tatum has the highest DRPM among power fowards and the sixth highest among all players, behind Dunn, Barton, Butler, Leonard, and James.

Tatum hasn't really been playing the power forward position this year. Stevens has pretty consistently had Brown on the opposition's power forward on the defensive side of the ball all season. That's with both Hayward or Smart playing as the fifth starter.

I think you need to compare Tatum to SFs, the position he defenses most of the time.

[Jvalin]

I think when he's at his best he looks and somewhat plays like PG13, but I'm not sure if you're calling him PP2.0 as a comp or because he's PP's kind of heir apparent on the Celtics.

I'm curious if anyone has a better single-player comp than PG13.  I'd definitely take that, Tatum peaking as a top 3 MVP vote getter would make us a true championship contender.

PG is a 2-way player. Can't say the same thing about Tatum.

How about Carmelo? They are both ISO scorers at the 3-4 positions.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Jayson Tatum has the highest DRPM among power fowards and the sixth highest among all players, behind Dunn, Barton, Butler, Leonard, and James.

Tatum hasn't really been playing the power forward position this year. Stevens has pretty consistently had Brown on the opposition's power forward on the defensive side of the ball all season. That's with both Hayward or Smart playing as the fifth starter.

I think you need to compare Tatum to SFs, the position he defenses most of the time.

I thought about this. I disagree. My eye test tells me Tatum matches up with bigs as much as Brown. Every place I can find lists him with the majority of his minutes at power forward.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I think when he's at his best he looks and somewhat plays like PG13, but I'm not sure if you're calling him PP2.0 as a comp or because he's PP's kind of heir apparent on the Celtics.

I'm curious if anyone has a better single-player comp than PG13.  I'd definitely take that, Tatum peaking as a top 3 MVP vote getter would make us a true championship contender.

PG is a 2-way player. Can't say the same thing about Tatum.

How about Carmelo? They are both ISO scorers at the 3-4 positions.

You absolutely can say that about Tatum. He's not the lock-down individual defender George was early on, but Tatum is an excellent team defender, extremely versatile, and gets a lot of deflections, steals, and blocks.

Tatum is a better defender right now arguably than Melo ever was.

[smokeablount]

I think when he's at his best he looks and somewhat plays like PG13, but I'm not sure if you're calling him PP2.0 as a comp or because he's PP's kind of heir apparent on the Celtics.

I'm curious if anyone has a better single-player comp than PG13.  I'd definitely take that, Tatum peaking as a top 3 MVP vote getter would make us a true championship contender.

PG is a 2-way player. Can't say the same thing about Tatum.

How about Carmelo? They are both ISO scorers at the 3-4 positions.

Yeah there’s definitely some Carmelo there on the offensive side of the ball and already being very good as a teenager, but I do think Tatum is a 2-way player (as does CBS based on his Charlotte post game presser), he just isn’t / won’t be the on-ball defender PG13 is.

I think there’s a real chance that whenever he peaks, he comes closer to approaching PG13’s impact on D than being the net negative that Carmelo is/was, but that doesn’t mean it will actually be close, just that he gap between PG13 and Carmelo is pretty freakin huge.

[nickagneta]

Jayson Tatum has the highest DRPM among power fowards and the sixth highest among all players, behind Dunn, Barton, Butler, Leonard, and James.

Tatum hasn't really been playing the power forward position this year. Stevens has pretty consistently had Brown on the opposition's power forward on the defensive side of the ball all season. That's with both Hayward or Smart playing as the fifth starter.

I think you need to compare Tatum to SFs, the position he defenses most of the time.

I thought about this. I disagree. My eye test tells me Tatum matches up with bigs as much as Brown. Every place I can find lists him with the majority of his minutes at power forward.

Go check out who they matched up against on NBA.com. It tells a bit of a different story.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Jayson Tatum has the highest DRPM among power fowards and the sixth highest among all players, behind Dunn, Barton, Butler, Leonard, and James.

Tatum hasn't really been playing the power forward position this year. Stevens has pretty consistently had Brown on the opposition's power forward on the defensive side of the ball all season. That's with both Hayward or Smart playing as the fifth starter.

I think you need to compare Tatum to SFs, the position he defenses most of the time.

I thought about this. I disagree. My eye test tells me Tatum matches up with bigs as much as Brown. Every place I can find lists him with the majority of his minutes at power forward.

Go check out who they matched up against on NBA.com. It tells a bit of a different story.

I have a tough time navigating some of their stats. Could you get me a link?

[nickagneta]

https://stats.nba.com/player/1628369/matchups/

https://stats.nba.com/player/1627759/matchups/

Notice two games versus Dallas and it was Brown on Porzingas. Two games versus NY, Brown on Randle and Tatum on the SF Morris. Against Toronto it was Brown on Siakim. Against a full Philly team it was Brown on Horford. Etc. Etc.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

https://stats.nba.com/player/1628369/matchups/

https://stats.nba.com/player/1627759/matchups/

Notice two games versus Dallas and it was Brown on Porzingas. Two games versus NY, Brown on Randle and Tatum on the SF Morris. Against Toronto it was Brown on Siakim. Against a full Philly team it was Brown on Horford. Etc. Etc.

Thanks. I guess Brown might cover bigs a bit more, especially with certain matchups, but I see Tatum on Morris, Finney Smith, Warren, Bjelica, Green, Simmons, Randle.

Seems a little nitpicky. I guess my main point was that Tatum's defense has been really good. Even among small forwards, his DRPM is fourth behind James, Butler, and Leonard. I was mainly just trying to show that he is an upper-tier team defender in the NBA at his position.

[droopdog7]

I think when he's at his best he looks and somewhat plays like PG13, but I'm not sure if you're calling him PP2.0 as a comp or because he's PP's kind of heir apparent on the Celtics.

I'm curious if anyone has a better single-player comp than PG13.  I'd definitely take that, Tatum peaking as a top 3 MVP vote getter would make us a true championship contender.

PG is a 2-way player. Can't say the same thing about Tatum.

How about Carmelo? They are both ISO scorers at the 3-4 positions.

You absolutely can say that about Tatum. He's not the lock-down individual defender George was early on, but Tatum is an excellent team defender, extremely versatile, and gets a lot of deflections, steals, and blocks.

Tatum is a better defender right now arguably than Melo ever was.

I agree regarding deflections.  Tatum has a knack for jumping passes and either getting a steal or deflecting the ball.  Does that better than anyone on the team, including smart and kemba.

[Fierce1]

Jayson Tatum continues rise towards superstardom after career night against Hornets
https://www.celticsblog.com/2019/12/23/21034648/jayson-tatum-continues-to-rise-to-superstardom-after-career-night-boston-celtics-charlotte-hornets

Jayson Tatum has the superstar instinct to take over and control the game on his level. It is something the Celtics will occasionally rely on if their other stars are having an off night. They will all channel around this as a team. Against Charlotte, this was the case. The team saw Tatum heating up, and they cleared the way for him. It was a special night, and it will not be the last of these dominant games.

[Hoopvortex]

https://stats.nba.com/player/1628369/matchups/

https://stats.nba.com/player/1627759/matchups/

Notice two games versus Dallas and it was Brown on Porzingas. Two games versus NY, Brown on Randle and Tatum on the SF Morris. Against Toronto it was Brown on Siakim. Against a full Philly team it was Brown on Horford. Etc. Etc.

Thanks. I guess Brown might cover bigs a bit more, especially with certain matchups, but I see Tatum on Morris, Finney Smith, Warren, Bjelica, Green, Simmons, Randle.

Seems a little nitpicky. I guess my main point was that Tatum's defense has been really good. Even among small forwards, his DRPM is fourth behind James, Butler, and Leonard. I was mainly just trying to show that he is an upper-tier team defender in the NBA at his position.

Not only that, but those three also lead the entire league, not just small forwards.  And in fact Tatum is fourth in the league, by that measure.