Better offensive player: Tatum or IT4 (poll)

[Somebody]

IT's 2017 season is probably one of the more underrated on-ball quarterback campaigns in the last couple of decades - he led a borderline elite offence without much talent around him.

[LilRip]

IT had some magic to him that year. I gotta go with IT4. It was one of the best offensive seasons in Celtic history, if I’m not mistaken. Plus, they hadn’t changed the “foul while shooting” rule then, which helped IT get a lot of free throws.

[SHAQATTACK]

IT was picked last draft pick and turned himself into a star at his size is special.

[Rikibellevie]

I love IT and the 2017 season was extatic, the king in the fourths was so clutch IT was one of the most unprobable MVP candidate all time I guess. Right now Tatum of course didn't have a dominating season like that. But it may come sooner than later.

Tatum has an almost unlimited offensive potential. So if you think about their offensive talent, there is no comparaison. And Tatum is built to become an offensive minded top 20/30 player all time; he has everything for that. So not sure compaing them has a sense; but thinking about them at the same stage, about their tools and potential I vote Tatum without any hesitation.

[Csfan1984]

Took traps and doubles to stop IT from getting 30 and he was king of the 4th. Tatum just starts cold and seems to disappear in big 4th quarter stretches on offense.

Tatum probably needs to warm up longer before the game. Also work on getting to the line or drive stops if they aren't giving him the calls. LeBron, Giannis, Harden and, KD go dead into guys then finish above or through contact. Even JB does it. Tatum tries to get around guys but ain't fast enough so doesn't get the call.

[NKY fan]

I’m starting to think that Brown has the highest ceiling of the two.
I see Tatum as having a 90% chance of becoming Paul George (just has to improve his passing) but nothing more ...
While Brown makes improvements every few months and I think he has a 20% chance of becoming a Kawhi type..
Obviously I completely made up these percentages but that’s how it feels to me

[BringToughnessBack]

A 21- 22 year old Tatum is miles beyond a 21-22 year old IT on offense and as a whole player as well.

 Lets revisit this in 5 years when Tatum turns 27 and look back on who is the better offensive player.

[GreenWarrior]

No no we don't have to wait. it's tatum and I don't care if he averages 10 pts. For the rest of his career.

[jambr380]

IT's best offensive season is better than Tatum's to date, but Tatum has a lot of time to catch up.

IT had grind for everything he earned; Tatum pretty much knew the NBA was his after his rookie season. If Tatum can ever develop half of IT's mentality, then he will be a monster. That is the most frustrating part of his game so far, but I guess it is to be expected because he is so young.

[Sophomore]

IT's best offensive season is better than Tatum's to date, but Tatum has a lot of time to catch up.

IT had grind for everything he earned; Tatum pretty much knew the NBA was his after his rookie season. If Tatum can ever develop half of IT's mentality, then he will be a monster. That is the most frustrating part of his game so far, but I guess it is too be expected because he is so young.

This.

I think he can get there; I don’t know whether he will. I’d feel better if I got more of the Jaylen Brown vibe from him - constantly working to bring out new facets of his game, and to make the team game work.

[Ogaju]

Took traps and doubles to stop IT from getting 30 and he was king of the 4th. Tatum just starts cold and seems to disappear in big 4th quarter stretches on offense.

Tatum probably needs to warm up longer before the game. Also work on getting to the line or drive stops if they aren't giving him the calls. LeBron, Giannis, Harden and, KD go dead into guys then finish above or through contact. Even JB does it. Tatum tries to get around guys but ain't fast enough so doesn't get the call.

This! He needs to bulk up or man up and learn how to finish through contact.

[gouki88]

I’m starting to think that Brown has the highest ceiling of the two.
I see Tatum as having a 90% chance of becoming Paul George (just has to improve his passing) but nothing more ...
While Brown makes improvements every few months and I think he has a 20% chance of becoming a Kawhi type..
Obviously I completely made up these percentages but that’s how it feels to me

Paul George was a 28PPG near-MVP at his peak before shoulder injuries. 90% chance to become that sounds pretty good

[Neurotic Guy]

Tatum is the better offensive player if offensive player means player who has the ability to more significantly influence an NBA game offensively.   In IT4s heyday he was the pound-for-pound most impressive player I’ve even seen with the exception of Allen Iverson and Calvin Murphy.  I think I’d add Mugsy Bogues just for the sheer amazingness of him.  But Jayson Tatum is more than a foot taller, he can shoot from anywhere and if his sole goal was to score over 30ppg per night, he’d do it. Granted IT4 had a run that is more amazing than anything JT has done, but JT is already scarier offensively and he’s going to get better. 

[mmmmm]

IT's best offensive season is better than Tatum's to date, but Tatum has a lot of time to catch up.

IT had grind for everything he earned; Tatum pretty much knew the NBA was his after his rookie season. If Tatum can ever develop half of IT's mentality, then he will be a monster. That is the most frustrating part of his game so far, but I guess it is to be expected because he is so young.

Agreed on all points.   IT4 had a huge uphill climb to even get accepted in the league and for him to post what is one of the greatest offensive seasons in Celtic history was just an amazing feat.  It is actually reasonable to think that Tatum will never match IT4's greatest season and yet could STILL have a HoF career.

But Jayson -- and Jaylen too for that matter -- is so young with so much potential in front of him.  He's going to have many seasons with chances to match or exceed what IT4 did.

[Moranis]

... opposing coaches could pick on IT's defense to force him to the bench.

Did they?  I don’t recall IT missing many minutes, even while playing through pain.  His offense was so good that we lived with the defense (which still wasn’t any worse than Kyrie’s)

Agree.  Helped that IT4 was surrounded by strong versatile Ds. Like Crowder, Smart, Horford, Bradley

they picked on him in the playoffs constantly.  it was a definite weak spot in our defense

When did it send him to the bench though?

Boston was better with him on the bench in the playoffs though. His 16 on/off per 100 was -7.8 and in 17 it was -0.7.  That has never been the case with Tatum, Boston has always been better with him on the floor in both the regular season and post season.  And Tatum was borderline elite last year with an 11.1 on/off during the regular season. 

As for the question, Thomas has most certainly had a better offensive season than anything Tatum has put together, but I'm not sure that means he was a better offensive player.  I was always worried about Thomas going cold or being muscled up.  It didn't happen often, but it was always in the back of my mind.  And I know Tatum has gone cold, but I never worry about it like I did with IT.