Why Tatum Dribbles Too Much (per Danny and Max)

[tstorey_97]

Udoka mentioned the Celtics assist statistics....(too many s's, I's and t's there) were some of the lowest in the league.

It is his job to start beating the drum for what he wants. I remember clearly that the Celtics had few amazing "ball movement" games during the season.

I don't know if Udoka wants the point guard to "run the floor" or not, we'll see what he mans by "more assists."

Agree with posters on Horford who is an excellent passer.

Tatum did a lot of iso ball, but, to me, seemed to do well with it. Granted if they lose it's bad.

I guess I'm a traditionalist having grown up watching the string of great PG's in Boston. Some insist Cousy was the GOAT for the Celtic's PG's. His passing was showy, but man, it was a different game back then. He'd throw bombs down the court though and not many of that era did.

Stevens really struggled with everyone last year.

[rogueandpoet]

Every coach talks ball movement. I think the focus should be on transition points. If our young studs get a shot at the rim before the opposing defense can set up then we win every time. Defense first leading to transistion and when you have to set up run pick and roll for 14-18 seconds and if nothing kick it to Tatum or Brown to clean up. Simple game.

[gouki88]

Every coach talks ball movement. I think the focus should be on transition points. If our young studs get a shot at the rim before the opposing defense can set up then we win every time. Defense first leading to transistion and when you have to set up run pick and roll for 14-18 seconds and if nothing kick it to Tatum or Brown to clean up. Simple game.

We definitely have the athleticism to get some easy fast paint points with the Jays, Schroder, Richardson and PP

[nickagneta]

I suspect that Tatum dribbles too much, in part, because he doesn't completely trust his teammates.  I can't really blame him.  He can keep the ball, or pass to Marcus Smart or one of last year's bench teammates for a seemingly inevitable brick.

I don't mind Tatum holding the ball as much as some people do.  Iso ball is so popular in the NBA because, frankly, it works.  I'd like to see him attack the basket more, though, similar to what he did in the playoffs.

Yeah, I remember times where Tatum would dribble for several seconds, get the defense to collapse around him, and pass to an open teammate for a shot (e.g. Semi).  Instead of taking the uncontested shot, that guy would take a dribble or two and get it back to Tatum, with maybe 2-3 seconds on the clock.  Hard to trust your teammates when they're not even going to take the open shot you got for them.

Here is part of the problem: when Tatum did his dribbling then passed out of it for an open teammate, that teammate was almost never Jaylen Brown. Jaylen would usually be on the other side of the court, a ton of time acting as a decoy sitting in the corner.

Brad had two elite talents and never melded them into one extra potent weapon. He just used two separate less potent weapons. Sitting stars in the corner doing nothing for 4,5,6 or more straight possessions is a terrible coaching decision, especially when the players on ball were Smart, Thompson, Theis, Grant, Semi, Teague or the rookies.

Asinine.

[liam]

I suspect that Tatum dribbles too much, in part, because he doesn't completely trust his teammates.  I can't really blame him.  He can keep the ball, or pass to Marcus Smart or one of last year's bench teammates for a seemingly inevitable brick.

I don't mind Tatum holding the ball as much as some people do.  Iso ball is so popular in the NBA because, frankly, it works.  I'd like to see him attack the basket more, though, similar to what he did in the playoffs.

Yeah, I remember times where Tatum would dribble for several seconds, get the defense to collapse around him, and pass to an open teammate for a shot (e.g. Semi).  Instead of taking the uncontested shot, that guy would take a dribble or two and get it back to Tatum, with maybe 2-3 seconds on the clock.  Hard to trust your teammates when they're not even going to take the open shot you got for them.

Here is part of the problem: when Tatum did his dribbling then passed out of it for an open teammate, that teammate was almost never Jaylen Brown. Jaylen would usually be on the other side of the court, a ton of time acting as a decoy sitting in the corner.

Brad had two elite talents and never melded them into one extra potent weapon. He just used two separate less potent weapons. Sitting stars in the corner doing nothing for 4,5,6 or more straight possessions is a terrible coaching decision, especially when the players on ball were Smart, Thompson, Theis, Grant, Semi, Teague or the rookies.

Asinine.

Yes, running Tatum/Brown pick and roll could be deadly.

[tenn_smoothie]

If one of the only criticisms of our young All-NBA calibre wing is that he dribbles too much I think we're in a good spot

Not when that tendency absolutely kills the rest of the offense and overall team energy. Why can't Tatum just be part of the overall offense and ball movement. Does he have to dribble the air out of the ball to score ? Let him catch the ball within the offense and if he does not have an opening, let him keep the ball moving. I understand he has these huge scoring games, but in the long run, his ball dominance is a negative when our goal is a championship instead of ESPN highlights.

[footey]

If one of the only criticisms of our young All-NBA calibre wing is that he dribbles too much I think we're in a good spot

Not when that tendency absolutely kills the rest of the offense and overall team energy. Why can't Tatum just be part of the overall offense and ball movement. Does he have to dribble the air out of the ball to score ? Let him catch the ball within the offense and if he does not have an opening, let him keep the ball moving. I understand he has these huge scoring games, but in the long run, his ball dominance is a negative when our goal is a championship instead of ESPN highlights.

Led us to a .500 record. What’s the problem?

[gouki88]

If one of the only criticisms of our young All-NBA calibre wing is that he dribbles too much I think we're in a good spot

Not when that tendency absolutely kills the rest of the offense and overall team energy. Why can't Tatum just be part of the overall offense and ball movement. Does he have to dribble the air out of the ball to score ? Let him catch the ball within the offense and if he does not have an opening, let him keep the ball moving. I understand he has these huge scoring games, but in the long run, his ball dominance is a negative when our goal is a championship instead of ESPN highlights.

You're talking as if he was doing this every time down the floor. Despite often having nobody to pass to due to injury at the end of the season he was still generating open looks for his teammates due to how defenders are drawn to him

[Ogaju]

If one of the only criticisms of our young All-NBA calibre wing is that he dribbles too much I think we're in a good spot

Not when that tendency absolutely kills the rest of the offense and overall team energy. Why can't Tatum just be part of the overall offense and ball movement. Does he have to dribble the air out of the ball to score ? Let him catch the ball within the offense and if he does not have an opening, let him keep the ball moving. I understand he has these huge scoring games, but in the long run, his ball dominance is a negative when our goal is a championship instead of ESPN highlights.

This is a nice post.

[Ogaju]

If one of the only criticisms of our young All-NBA calibre wing is that he dribbles too much I think we're in a good spot

Not when that tendency absolutely kills the rest of the offense and overall team energy. Why can't Tatum just be part of the overall offense and ball movement. Does he have to dribble the air out of the ball to score ? Let him catch the ball within the offense and if he does not have an opening, let him keep the ball moving. I understand he has these huge scoring games, but in the long run, his ball dominance is a negative when our goal is a championship instead of ESPN highlights.

You're talking as if he was doing this every time down the floor. Despite often having nobody to pass to due to injury at the end of the season he was still generating open looks for his teammates due to how defenders are drawn to him

there are always people to pass to, he should trust his team mates.

[Somebody]

I don't think we should move the ball for the sake of it: teams can generate quality looks without zipping a million passes around in a motion offence. But a static offence when our centrepiece isn't the type of player to make it work is equally undesirable - we should be aiming for the best system that can maximise what we have.

[LilRip]

I’m a huge fan of Tatum but this is something he needs to improve on. And it’s on him and the coaching staff to make the adjustment.

Imo, they should watch KD. Tatum and KD have similar skillsets - though I think Tatum is a better ball handler and perimeter defender while KD is a better finisher inside and a better paint defender. So it’s not that KD doesn’t play iso, but he decisively punishes 1v1 situations. Tatum “plays with his food” a lot, very much in the mold of Kyrie.

[tenn_smoothie]

If one of the only criticisms of our young All-NBA calibre wing is that he dribbles too much I think we're in a good spot

Not when that tendency absolutely kills the rest of the offense and overall team energy. Why can't Tatum just be part of the overall offense and ball movement. Does he have to dribble the air out of the ball to score ? Let him catch the ball within the offense and if he does not have an opening, let him keep the ball moving. I understand he has these huge scoring games, but in the long run, his ball dominance is a negative when our goal is a championship instead of ESPN highlights.

You're talking as if he was doing this every time down the floor. Despite often having nobody to pass to due to injury at the end of the season he was still generating open looks for his teammates due to how defenders are drawn to him

there are always people to pass to, he should trust his team mates.

Many thanks Ogaju.

I didn't say he dominated the ball every possession - sometimes he watched Brown or Kemba dominate the ball.
But Tatum does it the most. Occasionally, it's ok - but it was way too much last season.

[timpiker]

The dribbling drives me nuts too.  I seem to remember Tatum was criticized for this before the draft.

[MaxAMillion]

Paul Pierce was the same type of player. He didn’t have the athleticism to consistently drive past guys either. They can always trade Tatum f he is such a problem.