What’s Changed For Tatum?

[Ed Monix]

Jayson Tatum shot 46% in clutch time last year, including 5 of 9 on all shots in final 10 seconds of game within 3 points.

This season …



Source: Chris Forsberg

[keevsnick]

Honestly probably absolutely nothing. Clutch scoring stats like these are based off exceedingly small sample sizes, that means you can get full season samples where a guy is insanely good, and samples where a guy is insanely bad, often in back to back seasons, for no reason other than a statistical fluke.

But even besides that we just don't have a large enough sample size to take the stats so far this year seriously. 7-22 means he 3 makes away from nearly identical percentages from last year. And 0-3 is a meaningless sample.

[Big333223]

46/39/87 last season, 39/34/74 in 12 games this season.

I think we have a while to go before we have to chalk it up to something other than just being in a funk but man... it's a pretty terrible funk.

[gouki88]

46/39/87 last season, 39/34/74 in 12 games this season.

I think we have a while to go before we have to chalk it up to something other than just being in a funk but man... it's a pretty terrible funk.

I'm telling y'all, the new ball + Olympic fatigue is really impacting some guys!

[sgrogan]

The sample size is still small so everything can change with a mini hot streak, but...

Tatum's, MP, USG%, FGA have all steadily increased over his career. To this point he has been able to maintain his efficiency. Maybe he has "topped out" or plateaued in this respect. At some point more volume doesn't equate to more production. He's taking 2 more shots a game. If they are mostly misses his stats are in line with his career stats.

The Olympics, more pt, increased pressure, it's understandable. Maybe he needs to back off ever so slightly or battle thru it to get to the next level.

The glass half-full side is he has improved rebounding each year and the trend continues this year.

[gouki88]

In his defence, he does seem to be trending in the right direction. Last 3 games: 27/11/3/1/1 on 44/50/70 shooting. Not many free throw attempts though.

As we all know, that's the step he needs to take to become unstoppable.

[nickagneta]

In his defence, he does seem to be trending in the right direction. Last 3 games: 27/11/3/1/1 on 44/50/70 shooting. Not many free throw attempts though.

As we all know, that's the step he needs to take to become unstoppable.

Regarding Fats, they are down across the board this year so expecting his FTAs to go up this year probably isn't realistic.

[gouki88]

In his defence, he does seem to be trending in the right direction. Last 3 games: 27/11/3/1/1 on 44/50/70 shooting. Not many free throw attempts though.

As we all know, that's the step he needs to take to become unstoppable.

Regarding Fats, they are down across the board this year so expecting his FTAs to go up this year probably isn't realistic.

Good for nutrition!

But yeah, the emphasis on less of those horribly annoying offence-initiated fouls is good for the game, so I'll wear Tatum losing a few FTs

[#1P4P]

I’m not worried about Tatum’s early season slump, there’s plenty of evidence to indicate that he’ll figure it out and improve throughout the season.

I hope the struggles help him focus on improving his execution in late game situations. The ISO possessions and side step 3 disguised how turnover prone he is. He has a shaky handle and can make bad decisions in those situations. One thing about Kawhi, CP3, KD, Lebron and the 4thQ assassins of years past is that they’re going to get to their spots and shoot/pass depending on the look. The only shot Tatum can be sure to take is the side step 3; at this point, whether driving or posting up, he might not even get the shot off.

He probably won’t improve it this season, but it has to be a point of emphasis for him and the Celtics. Either he hits the side step 3 at an elite level or the ball is placed in more reliable hands. I think Horford is the best option until one of the J’s grows into the role.

[Moranis]

In his defence, he does seem to be trending in the right direction. Last 3 games: 27/11/3/1/1 on 44/50/70 shooting. Not many free throw attempts though.

As we all know, that's the step he needs to take to become unstoppable.

no Brown allows him more control and room and he plays better

[Rosco917]

He spoke about trying to be more of an all around player when the season began. Thinking more about playmaking and making others around him better. Then he went on a painful three game shooting skid, perhaps realizing this playmaking thing was for the birds.

I'm sure he'll soon forget about that making others around him better crap, and return to his old self. I myself am looking for a nice
11 for 31 night tonight.   

[gouki88]

In his defence, he does seem to be trending in the right direction. Last 3 games: 27/11/3/1/1 on 44/50/70 shooting. Not many free throw attempts though.

As we all know, that's the step he needs to take to become unstoppable.

no Brown allows him more control and room and he plays better

They both play individually better without one another due to the increase in usage - Brown averaged 30/6/3 without Tatum in 7 games last season. But I don't think your analysis is correct.

In the 4 games Tatum has played without Brown he's certainly played better, but that's mainly due to his shooting returning to the norm and him taking 23 shots in that time. Given they both played All-Star ball next to one another last season I don't have the same doubts as you

[gouki88]

In his defence, he does seem to be trending in the right direction. Last 3 games: 27/11/3/1/1 on 44/50/70 shooting. Not many free throw attempts though.

As we all know, that's the step he needs to take to become unstoppable.

no Brown allows him more control and room and he plays better

Not looking this way tonight

[pokeKingCurtis]

All you complaining about Tatum's end game isos, here's a Schroeder contested 2

I don't mind Tatum isos, just sprinkle some brown ones in there

[cltc5]

Someone told him he was great.  He believed the lie.