Tatum is such a weak a** complainer

[No Nickname]

I think JT is too naive to think that all slight contact when driving to the rim should result in a foul. Won’t happen to him and to all other NBA players as well, maybe barring LeBron.

So, rather than focusing on feeling the contact (and slowing down his drive in the process), he should just go full speed and find the rim. He will reduce his point blank misses once he focuses more on getting the basket than feeling the contact.

While it's true that he doesn't get some calls that he deserves (which is true of everyone, even superstars) you're right that he needs to try and stop avoiding the contact and just go hard to the rim and absorb the contact.

Higher up in the thread there was a stat that JT makes more shots within three feet of the rim than some other stars.  That may be true, but that's a very misleading stat.

Harden going up against a rim-protector like say Clint Capela and missing a high floater is one thing.

But if there was a stat for shots like: "got past the defender and then missed the point-blank layup" he might lead the league in that category.

Even having the defender on your hip, getting hit, having to go for a reverse, double-clutching, etc. etc.  It's totally different than the type of shots within three feet that Harden misses.

It's what we would call "Million-dollar move, ten cent shot." 

Of course he doesn't miss all of these layups.  But he does miss enough where lots of people are noticing it.

[seancally]

Tatum and the other stars in the league are getting accustomed to a more physical game. He’ll adjust over time.

Tatum though it also adjusting to an expanded role with this team. He has no dynamic, playmaking PG this time at the level of Kemba/IT/Kyrie. He has to be that guy and if he can figure that out then that’s the ticket to perennial All-NBA.

[No Nickname]

Tatum's finishing problems, and Jaylen's proficiency in that area, make me think back to several Summer Leagues ago.

Jaylen was driving recklessly to the rim over and over and over.  He was getting stripped, making turnovers, and missing so many shots at the rim.  I was incredulous at the "bad basketball" I was watching.  Why was he forcing it so much?

Then I realized recently that the reason was... Summer League games don't matter!

I bet Ainge/Stevens were telling Jaylen to just go get reps.  Take it to the rim.  Make mistakes.  But start to figure things out.

So over and over he would drive to the rim, adjust in the air, try little floaters, try reverse layups, try to just slam it home.  He was trying to get his "10,000 hours" to become a master at finishing at the rim.

Tatum on the other hand has always been slight.  He's always relied on his jumper.  He hasn't needed to drive to the rim to get his points while in high school, or at Duke.

But now that's what his game requires.  And he's having to figure it out... in games that DO MATTER.  Which is much harder.

Hopefully he eventually figures it out. 

[Big333223]

Tatum has looked really off all season. Last year he was manipulating defenses and getting whatever he wanted. So far this year, he looks confused. The end of the Wizards game was painful to watch last night and he finished with 27 points on 32(!) shots.

He's got to get his mind right or his rhythm back or something.

[Ogaju]

Tatum's finishing problems, and Jaylen's proficiency in that area, make me think back to several Summer Leagues ago.

Jaylen was driving recklessly to the rim over and over and over.  He was getting stripped, making turnovers, and missing so many shots at the rim.  I was incredulous at the "bad basketball" I was watching.  Why was he forcing it so much?

Then I realized recently that the reason was... Summer League games don't matter!

I bet Ainge/Stevens were telling Jaylen to just go get reps.  Take it to the rim.  Make mistakes.  But start to figure things out.

So over and over he would drive to the rim, adjust in the air, try little floaters, try reverse layups, try to just slam it home.  He was trying to get his "10,000 hours" to become a master at finishing at the rim.

Tatum on the other hand has always been slight.  He's always relied on his jumper.  He hasn't needed to drive to the rim to get his points while in high school, or at Duke.

But now that's what his game requires.  And he's having to figure it out... in games that DO MATTER.  Which is much harder.

Hopefully he eventually figures it out.

He has been figuring it out for the last four seasons?

[No Nickname]

Tatum's finishing problems, and Jaylen's proficiency in that area, make me think back to several Summer Leagues ago.

Jaylen was driving recklessly to the rim over and over and over.  He was getting stripped, making turnovers, and missing so many shots at the rim.  I was incredulous at the "bad basketball" I was watching.  Why was he forcing it so much?

Then I realized recently that the reason was... Summer League games don't matter!

I bet Ainge/Stevens were telling Jaylen to just go get reps.  Take it to the rim.  Make mistakes.  But start to figure things out.

So over and over he would drive to the rim, adjust in the air, try little floaters, try reverse layups, try to just slam it home.  He was trying to get his "10,000 hours" to become a master at finishing at the rim.

Tatum on the other hand has always been slight.  He's always relied on his jumper.  He hasn't needed to drive to the rim to get his points while in high school, or at Duke.

But now that's what his game requires.  And he's having to figure it out... in games that DO MATTER.  Which is much harder.

Hopefully he eventually figures it out.

He has been figuring it out for the last four seasons?

Maybe he's only at 8,000 hours.  Needs a few more seasons. 

[flybono]

Send him to Portland

He is reading the hype

The player is not a top 15 player in this league will u pink hats get that through your head

[nickagneta]

Send him to Portland

He is reading the hype

The player is not a top 15 player in this league will u pink hats get that through your head

Pink hats?

I see your act on this site hasn't changed much.

Trolls gonna troll

[trickybilly]

Not a lot of players I am trading Tatum for, but if Brad feels Tatum might try to pull an Anthony Davis, players I would consider for Tatum would be:

KAT
Zion
Luka
Jokic
Giannis
Davis
Curry

Please, no KAT.

He is a weaker competitor than Tatum. In fact, he is the center version of Tatum.
Tons of talent, but does not have the mentality for winning titles.

Yeah, I dunno. I've seen KAT play pretty hard at times: a new environment, tutelage from Al, Marcus, letting Jaylen be the guy...  could be just what this team needs.

[slamtheking]

Not a lot of players I am trading Tatum for, but if Brad feels Tatum might try to pull an Anthony Davis, players I would consider for Tatum would be:

KAT
Zion
Luka
Jokic
Giannis
Davis
Curry

Please, no KAT.

He is a weaker competitor than Tatum. In fact, he is the center version of Tatum.
Tons of talent, but does not have the mentality for winning titles.

Yeah, I dunno. I've seen KAT play pretty hard at times, a new environment, tutelage from Al, Marcus. Letting Jaylen be the guy could be just what this team needs.

KAT would have to be committed to playing hard and playing defense.  Also, not sold on Zion as an option based on his health track record.  would actually ask NO for more than just Zion.

[Celtics4ever]

I would never trade for Davis, he is always hurt.

[Birdman]

Tatum train with Kobe Bryant so Kobe must show him how to complain all the time also

[ozgod]

I agree with Jared Weiss's take. The problem with Tatum isn't so much as his complaining (though I'm sure each time he complains just makes the refs more determined not to let him win) but the fact that he gets momentarily distracted and the guy he's defending runs down the court ahead of him. It happened a number of times tonight late in the 3rd and early in the 4th. Why can't he get this part of his game under control?


https://twitter.com/JaredWeissNBA/status/1455349096517148674

[SparzWizard]

Do the complaining during the free throw session. They won't overturn a call or make a late whistle while ball is in mid-play. Just don't understand the fascination of complaining to refs while running back in transition on defense. Let the coach take care of that.

[Celtics4ever]

As accomplishment as Tatum is, the refs sure do not treat him like a star.   Whining and complaining is not going to fix that but rather make it worse.