Can Tatum play PF?

[Who]

Tatum is the prototypical PF for today's game.

The prototypical PF for today's game defined as a player with the skill of a SF and size of a combo forward. Tatum is a matchup nightmare who takes our offense to another level as PF because he allows the team to get more speed & skill on the floor offensively.

[Moranis]

depends on the match-up

[td450]

depends on the match-up

I never understood this line of thinking.

If there is a matchup that he has a problem with, he has to be a problem for his opponent, and he has to be the bigger problem. If he's good enough, the other team is the team that has to adjust.

[Surferdad]

depends on the match-up

I never understood this line of thinking.

If there is a matchup that he has a problem with, he has to be a problem for his opponent, and he has to be the bigger problem. If he's good enough, the other team is the team that has to adjust.

Well-stated.  When the question comes up, "can X player play the Y position", it is important to consider both sides of the ball.

[LilRip]

Hmm the responses have been interesting. I guess I should rephrase then my question because it seems close to unanimous that Tatum already plays the 4 and is thriving. I was coming off the general sentiment I used to see here that the 4 is a slot that is sorely missing on the team (and let’s face it, Horford is a 5 at this point in his career)

Anyway if that’s the case… what is then the position of greatest need? Does this mean getting an above average player at the 1 yields more impact than an above average player at the 4?

For example: if we had to give up some combination of TT and/or Fournier and keep a core of Smart/Brown/Tatum/Horford… would you rather get a productive non-allstar 1 like a Rozier or something? Or a productive non-allstar 4 like an Aaron Gordon or something?

[gouki88]

Hmm the responses have been interesting. I guess I should rephrase then my question because it seems close to unanimous that Tatum already plays the 4 and is thriving. I was coming off the general sentiment I used to see here that the 4 is a slot that is sorely missing on the team (and let’s face it, Horford is a 5 at this point in his career)

Anyway if that’s the case… what is then the position of greatest need? Does this mean getting an above average player at the 1 yields more impact than an above average player at the 4?

For example: if we had to give up some combination of TT and/or Fournier and keep a core of Smart/Brown/Tatum/Horford… would you rather get a productive non-allstar 1 like a Rozier or something? Or a productive non-allstar 4 like an Aaron Gordon or something?

I think a 4 is more desperate a need, because our bench point guard (Pritchard) is better than our bench PF (Grant/Parker). Turning our bench PF spot from a gaping weakness into a strength would be ideal

[Surferdad]

Hmm the responses have been interesting. I guess I should rephrase then my question because it seems close to unanimous that Tatum already plays the 4 and is thriving. I was coming off the general sentiment I used to see here that the 4 is a slot that is sorely missing on the team (and let’s face it, Horford is a 5 at this point in his career)

Anyway if that’s the case… what is then the position of greatest need? Does this mean getting an above average player at the 1 yields more impact than an above average player at the 4?

For example: if we had to give up some combination of TT and/or Fournier and keep a core of Smart/Brown/Tatum/Horford… would you rather get a productive non-allstar 1 like a Rozier or something? Or a productive non-allstar 4 like an Aaron Gordon or something?

I think a 4 is more desperate a need, because our bench point guard (Pritchard) is better than our bench PF (Grant/Parker). Turning our bench PF spot from a gaping weakness into a strength would be ideal

I love this line of thinking and really summarizes the current needs.

I'm not thrilled with Smart as our starting PG but he is serviceable and brings defensive toughness.  I really see no need to get another PG since Pritchard should be able to step into the backup PG role.  In fact, bringing in another PG to either start or be backup sends a bad message to Marcus and Payton.  The last thing this team needs is a bad message from the FO.

PF though is an entirely different situation.  Realistically, we've only got Tatum there.  IMO, Grant, Thompson and RWill are all centers.  That leaves Jabari Parker.  Any chance he can be productive and at least show some flashes of defensive prowess?  I suspect most folks here don't think so, but I'm not ready to give up on him as he has at least shown he can still put the ball in the basket.  Perhaps go into the season without another trade or FA signing and see how it goes before the trade deadline.

[LilRip]

Hmm the responses have been interesting. I guess I should rephrase then my question because it seems close to unanimous that Tatum already plays the 4 and is thriving. I was coming off the general sentiment I used to see here that the 4 is a slot that is sorely missing on the team (and let’s face it, Horford is a 5 at this point in his career)

Anyway if that’s the case… what is then the position of greatest need? Does this mean getting an above average player at the 1 yields more impact than an above average player at the 4?

For example: if we had to give up some combination of TT and/or Fournier and keep a core of Smart/Brown/Tatum/Horford… would you rather get a productive non-allstar 1 like a Rozier or something? Or a productive non-allstar 4 like an Aaron Gordon or something?

I think a 4 is more desperate a need, because our bench point guard (Pritchard) is better than our bench PF (Grant/Parker). Turning our bench PF spot from a gaping weakness into a strength would be ideal

I love this line of thinking and really summarizes the current needs.

I'm not thrilled with Smart as our starting PG but he is serviceable and brings defensive toughness.  I really see no need to get another PG since Pritchard should be able to step into the backup PG role.  In fact, bringing in another PG to either start or be backup sends a bad message to Marcus and Payton.  The last thing this team needs is a bad message from the FO.

PF though is an entirely different situation.  Realistically, we've only got Tatum there.  IMO, Grant, Thompson and RWill are all centers.  That leaves Jabari Parker.  Any chance he can be productive and at least show some flashes of defensive prowess?  I suspect most folks here don't think so, but I'm not ready to give up on him as he has at least shown he can still put the ball in the basket.  Perhaps go into the season without another trade or FA signing and see how it goes before the trade deadline.

My biggest problem with this is that we have too many good/serviceable 5’s right now: Horford, Timelord, TT, Kornet and Brown. 3 of those could start on many teams and 2 could come off the bench for many teams too. This leads me to think that we’re pretty imbalanced and if we could swap one of those guys for a 4 (or a 1) who will be good enough to start on many teams, then we can better maximize the talent pool we have.

For example, instead of TT not playing (because there’s only 48 minutes to go around), we can have someone of similar talent level playing another position. Devonte Graham as a 1 maybe? Kyle Anderson or Jamychal Green as a 4 maybe? I haven’t checked the contracts of these guys but I’m just naming them as examples. Not to also say that they start here either but they’ll give us some real depth!

[Vermont Green]

I will try to present this another way.  To me a PF or 4 is a big along with center.  Center and PF has overlap, some players can be either or both.  Some of the best Celtics PFs ever are as follows:

Garnett
McHale
Heinsohn
Maxwell

Then there are wings:

Bird
Pierce
Lewis
Havlicek

Now which group does Tatum belong in?

[Somebody]

depends on the match-up

I never understood this line of thinking.

If there is a matchup that he has a problem with, he has to be a problem for his opponent, and he has to be the bigger problem. If he's good enough, the other team is the team that has to adjust.

Well-stated.  When the question comes up, "can X player play the Y position", it is important to consider both sides of the ball.

I mean Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis play PF quite a bit, I'm pretty sure they have to be the bigger problem lol.

[SparzWizard]

I will try to present this another way.  To me a PF or 4 is a big along with center.  Center and PF has overlap, some players can be either or both.  Some of the best Celtics PFs ever are as follows:

Garnett
McHale
Heinsohn
Maxwell

Then there are wings:

Bird
Pierce
Lewis
Havlicek

Now which group does Tatum belong in?

I'd say he belongs more in the wings.

[Celtics4ever]

He can and has played PF almost his whole team here.    Is it ideal is the question?   Right with our personnel he is the best option.   Now if we were to get a Thad Young type guy then I would want him at SF.

[Goldstar88]

I will try to present this another way.  To me a PF or 4 is a big along with center.  Center and PF has overlap, some players can be either or both.  Some of the best Celtics PFs ever are as follows:

Garnett
McHale
Heinsohn
Maxwell

Then there are wings:

Bird
Pierce
Lewis
Havlicek

Now which group does Tatum belong in?

The PF’s today are large wing players . There are very few traditional PF left in the NBA. Just look at the depth charts on teams. The position has evolved.

Starting PF:
Nets: KD
Raptors: Siakam
Knicks: Randle
76ers: Harris
Bucks: Giannis
Bulls: Thad Young
Pistons: Jerami Grant
Hornets: Bridges
Heat: Bam
Wizards: Hachimura

[Surferdad]

Hmm the responses have been interesting. I guess I should rephrase then my question because it seems close to unanimous that Tatum already plays the 4 and is thriving. I was coming off the general sentiment I used to see here that the 4 is a slot that is sorely missing on the team (and let’s face it, Horford is a 5 at this point in his career)

Anyway if that’s the case… what is then the position of greatest need? Does this mean getting an above average player at the 1 yields more impact than an above average player at the 4?

For example: if we had to give up some combination of TT and/or Fournier and keep a core of Smart/Brown/Tatum/Horford… would you rather get a productive non-allstar 1 like a Rozier or something? Or a productive non-allstar 4 like an Aaron Gordon or something?

I think a 4 is more desperate a need, because our bench point guard (Pritchard) is better than our bench PF (Grant/Parker). Turning our bench PF spot from a gaping weakness into a strength would be ideal

I love this line of thinking and really summarizes the current needs.

I'm not thrilled with Smart as our starting PG but he is serviceable and brings defensive toughness.  I really see no need to get another PG since Pritchard should be able to step into the backup PG role.  In fact, bringing in another PG to either start or be backup sends a bad message to Marcus and Payton.  The last thing this team needs is a bad message from the FO.

PF though is an entirely different situation.  Realistically, we've only got Tatum there.  IMO, Grant, Thompson and RWill are all centers.  That leaves Jabari Parker.  Any chance he can be productive and at least show some flashes of defensive prowess?  I suspect most folks here don't think so, but I'm not ready to give up on him as he has at least shown he can still put the ball in the basket.  Perhaps go into the season without another trade or FA signing and see how it goes before the trade deadline.

My biggest problem with this is that we have too many good/serviceable 5’s right now: Horford, Timelord, TT, Kornet and Brown. 3 of those could start on many teams and 2 could come off the bench for many teams too. This leads me to think that we’re pretty imbalanced and if we could swap one of those guys for a 4 (or a 1) who will be good enough to start on many teams, then we can better maximize the talent pool we have.

For example, instead of TT not playing (because there’s only 48 minutes to go around), we can have someone of similar talent level playing another position. Devonte Graham as a 1 maybe? Kyle Anderson or Jamychal Green as a 4 maybe? I haven’t checked the contracts of these guys but I’m just naming them as examples. Not to also say that they start here either but they’ll give us some real depth!

Thanks for adding those guys, just makes my point stronger: Too many at center, not enough at PF.  I would be in favor of just fixing THAT problem but leave the backcourt and wings as they are.

[Jvalin]

Of course he can. Traditional PFs aren't mobile enough to stay in front of him on the perimeter. This is a massive advantage in our favour, especially since Tatum can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot.

PG: Smart
SG: Brown
SF: Fournier
PF: Tatum
C: Horford

Imo, this should be our starting lineup.