Is Tatum playing out of position?

[GreenCoffeeBean]

Putting aside Brad’s position-less basketball blah blah blah:

When I watch Tatum play currently I see a

- Decent perimeter defender
- Ok-ish rebounder
- Bad inside defender
- Great shot maker
- Great 3 point shooter
- Decent ball handler
- average court vision

Is it just me or is Tatum a long 2 rather than SF or PF? The only reason to keep playing Tatum like we have would be if we think he can become a point forward. He doesn’t match up favorably with PF or SF on defense currently.

I also don’t buy the rumors that he’s 6’10” or whatever. I think he’s still 6’8” in sneakers and it’s obvious when you see him next to other team’s Centers and PFs.

[Tr1boy]

Putting aside Brad’s position-less basketball blah blah blah:

When I watch Tatum play currently I see a

- Decent perimeter defender
- Ok-ish rebounder
- Bad inside defender
- Great shot maker
- Great 3 point shooter
- Decent ball handler
- average court vision

Is it just me or is Tatum a long 2 rather than SF or PF? The only reason to keep playing Tatum like we have would be if we think he can become a point forward. He doesn’t match up favorably with PF or SF on defense currently.

Tatum handles is a little shaky to be a 2 or long 2 as you call it

Tatum is the modern day Tayshuan Prince. Positionless player

I wish he would dribble less, decides quicker and learn to utilize screens and shoot off the catch.   Hopefully it happens

[GreenCoffeeBean]

Putting aside Brad’s position-less basketball blah blah blah:

When I watch Tatum play currently I see a

- Decent perimeter defender
- Ok-ish rebounder
- Bad inside defender
- Great shot maker
- Great 3 point shooter
- Decent ball handler
- average court vision

Is it just me or is Tatum a long 2 rather than SF or PF? The only reason to keep playing Tatum like we have would be if we think he can become a point forward. He doesn’t match up favorably with PF or SF on defense currently.

Tatum handles is a little shaky to be a 2 or long 2 as you call it

Tatum is the modern day Tayshuan Prince. Positionless player

I wish he would dribble less, decides quicker and learn to utilize screens and shoot off the catch.   Hopefully it happens

I like the Tayshaun comp. I also think of Rudy Gay and Shane Battier. He really needs to develop his court vision to go to the next level like Jimmy Butler or Kawhi.

I wouldn’t build a team around Tayshaun Prince with a few extra offensive moves and much worse defense.

[Moranis]

Tatum is already a significantly better player than Prince ever was.  It is quite simply disrespectful to compare Tatum to Prince.  He isn't much worse than Butler (if at all) right now and isn't that far away from part-time Leonard. 

[Tr1boy]

Tatum is already a significantly better player than Prince ever was.  It is quite simply disrespectful to compare Tatum to Prince.  He isn't much worse than Butler (if at all) right now and isn't that far away from part-time Leonard.

I guess you already forgot what Butler did to the Celtics in the playoffs

Leonard is a world champion and running on one good leg at this point of his career

Tatum has ways to go.  A very good 1 on 1 talent. But there is a lot more to NBA basketball than 1 on 1 ball

right now he needs figure out how to beat traps/double teams and make the correct read/pass the ball out quickly/consistently

[Tr1boy]

I wish Danny would call Pierce and ask him to spend some time with Tatum  (and Brown)

Pierce was an excellent passer for a wing.   He dealt with his fare share of double teams

[testy]

I’ve said this in other posts ,Tatum is a big three as was Larry bird. Bird was not a power forward and not a small forward. Brown is a small forward not a 2. I know the modern game is considered position less. You still have to match up with the competitions size.that is one of the reasons we have when matching up with athletic bigs .

[Ogaju]

Yes

[gouki88]

Since when is 7+ boards a game okay-ish for a wing?

[Somebody]

Since when is 7+ boards a game okay-ish for a wing?

Yeah OP was off regarding Tatum's rebounding. Do think that his other points are more or less correct though.

[knuckleballer]

I think he’s a natural 3.  He plays some shooting guard and power forward out of necessity and because of his high talent level.  I think he’d be better off playing more off the ball than he has been, but we also need better players to make that happen.  The idea that he’s a mediocre defender and rebounder is absurd. 

[moiso]

Tatum is already a significantly better player than Prince ever was.  It is quite simply disrespectful to compare Tatum to Prince.  He isn't much worse than Butler (if at all) right now and isn't that far away from part-time Leonard.

I guess you already forgot what Butler did to the Celtics in the playoffs

Leonard is a world champion and running on one good leg at this point of his career

Tatum has ways to go.  A very good 1 on 1 talent. But there is a lot more to NBA basketball than 1 on 1 ball

right now he needs figure out how to beat traps/double teams and make the correct read/pass the ball out quickly/consistently

Maybe you forgot what what Tatum did to the Heat in that series.  Butler had one huge game which was awesome, but he was average for most of the series.  Tatum 27/10/5, Butler 19/6/5.  Not even close in that series.

[Tr1boy]

Tatum is already a significantly better player than Prince ever was.  It is quite simply disrespectful to compare Tatum to Prince.  He isn't much worse than Butler (if at all) right now and isn't that far away from part-time Leonard.

I guess you already forgot what Butler did to the Celtics in the playoffs

Leonard is a world champion and running on one good leg at this point of his career

Tatum has ways to go.  A very good 1 on 1 talent. But there is a lot more to NBA basketball than 1 on 1 ball

right now he needs figure out how to beat traps/double teams and make the correct read/pass the ball out quickly/consistently

Maybe you forgot what what Tatum did to the Heat in that series.  Butler had one huge game which was awesome, but he was average for most of the series.  Tatum 27/10/5, Butler 19/6/5.  Not even close in that series.

Oh brother

Its not only about stat totals

Butler had more impact in that series

[gouki88]

Tatum is already a significantly better player than Prince ever was.  It is quite simply disrespectful to compare Tatum to Prince.  He isn't much worse than Butler (if at all) right now and isn't that far away from part-time Leonard.

I guess you already forgot what Butler did to the Celtics in the playoffs

Leonard is a world champion and running on one good leg at this point of his career

Tatum has ways to go.  A very good 1 on 1 talent. But there is a lot more to NBA basketball than 1 on 1 ball

right now he needs figure out how to beat traps/double teams and make the correct read/pass the ball out quickly/consistently

Maybe you forgot what what Tatum did to the Heat in that series.  Butler had one huge game which was awesome, but he was average for most of the series.  Tatum 27/10/5, Butler 19/6/5.  Not even close in that series.

Oh brother

Its not only about stat totals

Butler had more impact in that series

No he did not. Not even close

[Tr1boy]

Tatum is already a significantly better player than Prince ever was.  It is quite simply disrespectful to compare Tatum to Prince.  He isn't much worse than Butler (if at all) right now and isn't that far away from part-time Leonard.

I guess you already forgot what Butler did to the Celtics in the playoffs

Leonard is a world champion and running on one good leg at this point of his career

Tatum has ways to go.  A very good 1 on 1 talent. But there is a lot more to NBA basketball than 1 on 1 ball

right now he needs figure out how to beat traps/double teams and make the correct read/pass the ball out quickly/consistently

Maybe you forgot what what Tatum did to the Heat in that series.  Butler had one huge game which was awesome, but he was average for most of the series.  Tatum 27/10/5, Butler 19/6/5.  Not even close in that series.

Oh brother

Its not only about stat totals

Butler had more impact in that series

No he did not. Not even close

Do a polling