Jayson Tatum looks fantastic - breakout season?

[chambers]

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.

Huh? Tatum is certainly a 2 way player. His defense is a huge part of our success.

[LilRip]

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

[Hoopvortex]

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.

Huh? Tatum is certainly a 2 way player. His defense is a huge part of our success.

And how!

His shooting was really middling at the beginning of the season, but his uptick in defense this year was there from the beginning, and has been a big reason why the Celtics have been a top defensive team. His shooting has gradually crept up, and as Hayward and Smart return, maybe we can hope for a surge after the All-Star break.

[gouki88]

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 don't know if I'd say Tatum is a better defender. I think they're right about equals (which is massive for us, because I personally was highly critical of JT's defence last season).

Tatum is certainly better at team defence, but I think Brown is the better one-on-one defender, and I think Brown has more defensive versatility. I trust Brown way more to defend 4's and 1's than I do Tatum.

[footey]

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 don't know if I'd say Tatum is a better defender. I think they're right about equals (which is massive for us, because I personally was highly critical of JT's defence last season).

Tatum is certainly better at team defence, but I think Brown is the better one-on-one defender, and I think Brown has more defensive versatility. I trust Brown way more to defend 4's and 1's than I do Tatum.

Early this season I felt Brown was the better defender. Now I feel they are both really good on the defensive end. Learning to play from rookie season on in the same system probably has helped both of them in this regard.   

Very exciting that they are the nucleus of our next 5-10 years.

 Look forward to a lot of great Celtic seasons for years to come!! Starting with this one!

[keevsnick]

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.

[nickagneta]

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.

[keevsnick]

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.

[Fierce1]

All-Star voting starts in a few hours.

Let's see if Tatum is in the top 5 among eastern wing players.

[Somebody]

All-Star voting starts in a few hours.

Let's see if Tatum is in the top 5 among eastern wing players.

If you rely on accolades to measure a player's quality you'll very likely go wrong lol.

[Fierce1]

All-Star voting starts in a few hours.

Let's see if Tatum is in the top 5 among eastern wing players.

If you rely on accolades to measure a player's quality you'll very likely go wrong lol.

True.

But here's the thing, Tatum will not only have soon to be many accolades, he also has the numbers to back up the quality of his play.

I think it's very obvious, the kid is only 21 years old and he's already this good.

Even Jaylen Brown took 4 seasons to finally show flashes of brilliance.

Jayson Tatum will be the next Boston Celtics superstar.

[Fafnir]

Jayson has really figured out how to use his length this year defensively. He's definitely a better help defender than man to man guy, but overall team defense is the most important defensive skill.

Jaylen is always going to be a bit of a worse defender than we think until he stops having quite so many brain farts where he blows an assignment or jumps on an obvious pump fake. He's improved those bad habits but they still come up too often. Those two things means he still fouls at too high a rate.

(Foul rate is weird, not fouling much at all usually means you're either a really good defensive player or a truly terrible one)

[nickagneta]

Jayson over the last 3 games:

80 points.  26.6 PPG
26 rebounds  8.6 RPG
10 assists  3.3 APG
31-67  from the field 46.2%
9-18 from three 50%
8-8 from the line 100%

True Shooting % by month

October 48.2%
November 52%
December 55.4%

And kid's defense has been tremendous.

Love Jayson. Can't wait to have him locked up long term right alongside Jaylen.

[droopdog7]

Jayson has a good game tonight but he has GOT to stop playing iso ball where he settles for a side step three.  I know some will say take the good with the bad but the team can get better shots.  Either make a decisive move you move the ball.

[Sophomore]

Jayson over the last 3 games:

80 points.  26.6 PPG
26 rebounds  8.6 RPG
10 assists  3.3 APG
31-67  from the field 46.2%
9-18 from three 50%
8-8 from the line 100%

True Shooting % by month

October 48.2%
November 52%
December 55.4%

And kid's defense has been tremendous.

Love Jayson. Can't wait to have him locked up long term right alongside Jaylen.

Yeah; definitely don’t overlook that defense. His help and hustle seem good when I’m watching him, and his length is really a problem for all but the longest and craftiest frontcourt players.