Tatum’s Finals Performance

[Rikibellevie]

I don't know if it is in part because oh his injury but whatever he is not saying that so we shouldnt speculate on that..

Hé missed baddly his final and was one more time exposed when trying to reach the next level. Our loss is biggly in his shoulder and the comparaison with Curry is hard.

But he isnt in Currys career stage. He always had the hard way. He always rebond and step by step cross the gaps.p Tatum is a Smart and quiet humble guy who learn from his mistakes.  He will cross the next one, becoming à better playmaker, handler. Smart and Brown will also look better then. I think when we decided to start with Smart it was always the plan. And it is the good one, like most choices took the franchise since 2-3 years.
 
Yes he was the main reason we arrived their. He prooved à lot against Giannis and Durant.

[RockinRyA]

Tater Tatum spit the bit in the finals. Had 100 turnovers in the finals which broke the record and is in the top 5 for worst 2 point fg% in the finals ever. He looked broken by the time the finals ended. Wiggins outplayed him. He was soft as butta in the finals. If I'm Stevens I at least put feelers out there to see what the haul would be for him.

Wonder how many Cavs fans said the same about LeBron's first Finals appearance. Patience goes a long way

Yea well he's not James and never will be. Tatum was in 3 ECFs before this too. He's got plenty of playoff experience. My patience has been worn thin.

Good analysis

A mod on here being sarcastic about another posters post. Very poor form.

Its not against the rules.  Most mods here were initially posters who willingly took the needed responsibility. They should have the same freedom as posters, if not more.

[RockinRyA]

While tatum's 3 pt percentage was good,  some of his missed were not even close. Shot multiple airballs. Even his midrange was way worse than usual. You also know his confidence is high if he attempts a lot of those step backs/side steps. Something is clearly wrong, whether its injury or nerves i dunno, and i dont really believe its wiggins because he got stopped by freakin bjelica.

[GreenlyGreeny]

While tatum's 3 pt percentage was good,  some of his missed were not even close. Shot multiple airballs. Even his midrange was way worse than usual. You also know his confidence is high if he attempts a lot of those step backs/side steps. Something is clearly wrong, whether its injury or nerves i dunno, and i dont really believe its wiggins because he got stopped by freakin bjelica.

It’s gotta be the shoulder. Maybe even a downlow bout with COVID, for all we know. He was definitely not the all-NBA first teamer we saw throughout the eastern playoffs. Something was wrong and I doubt it was nerves.

[Surferdad]

While tatum's 3 pt percentage was good,  some of his missed were not even close. Shot multiple airballs. Even his midrange was way worse than usual. You also know his confidence is high if he attempts a lot of those step backs/side steps. Something is clearly wrong, whether its injury or nerves i dunno, and i dont really believe its wiggins because he got stopped by freakin bjelica.

It’s gotta be the shoulder. Maybe even a downlow bout with COVID, for all we know. He was definitely not the all-NBA first teamer we saw throughout the eastern playoffs. Something was wrong and I doubt it was nerves.

I agree.  I don't like the "no excuses" attitude by some, it's not realistic.

[moiso]

It looked like quite a bit of low confidence and nerves to me.  He looked fine when he was just shooting, but his footwork was so off on his drives it looked mostly mental to me.  Wiggins did a nice job, and Tatum never really got comfortable the entire series.  He'd have an open lane to the hoop and he'd start Eurostepping.  He'd have a layup and he'd flick up some crazy hook/scoop shots.  He was uncomfortable and doubting the moves that have worked all year for him.  He began looking like he was scared of contact on his drives like he was during his first couple of years when he was skinny.  It could be that he was trying to protect his shoulder, but to me it looked like Tatum's brain wasn't up for the challenge.  He was all discombobulated in his thought processes.

[PAOBoston]

Not sure if he was hurt or not. I don’t think he was. I think the stage got to him. He was a mess in the last game. Either way, the only thing people will remember him for during the series is coming up very small.

[No Nickname]

It looked like quite a bit of low confidence and nerves to me.  He looked fine when he was just shooting, but his footwork was so off on his drives it looked mostly mental to me.  Wiggins did a nice job, and Tatum never really got comfortable the entire series.  He'd have an open lane to the hoop and he'd start Eurostepping.  He'd have a layup and he'd flick up some crazy hook/scoop shots.  He was uncomfortable and doubting the moves that have worked all year for him. He began looking like he was scared of contact on his drives like he was during his first couple of years when he was skinny.  It could be that he was trying to protect his shoulder, but to me it looked like Tatum's brain wasn't up for the challenge.  He was all discombobulated in his thought processes.

Working all year for him?  He missed the fourth-most layups if anyone in the NBA all year.

Instead of protecting the ball when he collects it on a drive, holding it close to his chest away from the defender, he sticks both arms out straight like he’s holding a stinky trash bag away from his nose trying to draw a foul, while he’s Eurostepping and not getting great elevation on his release.

Who taught him that?  He needs to stop with this wild driving into traffic and not know big what he’s gonna do (go strong? try to draw a foul? kick it out to a shooter?) and be decisive.  This goes for Jaylen “Baby Giraffe on Ice” Brown.

Catch a pass and either shoot it or pump fake.  If the pump fake works, then drive.  If not then pass the ball and MOVE! 

Enough of the one-on-one And-1 dribbling demonstrations that go nowhere.

[hodgy03038]

Sorry but JT came up really small. And I think the occasional holding the shoulder thing was a coverup from being bad. Just a little too big for him. He needs to look in the mirror and improve on his weaknesses like passing. He can definitely do it but the finals loss I have to put squarely on JT with a little help from his friends like Smart & White.

[Phantom255x]

The one thing I will say is that JT averaged 22/7/7 this Finals, and those are similar to what Lebron averaged in his 1st Finals. I'm not at all saying he's at Lebron's level or that he'll reach it, but I hope Tatum actually learns from this and continues to put in the work. He took a lot of great strides this season and he'll continue to do so. My only fear would be that he lets this series demoralize him and it affects him next season. I mean he really looked rattled the last two games of the Finals in particular

[Dchuck]

It looked like quite a bit of low confidence and nerves to me.  He looked fine when he was just shooting, but his footwork was so off on his drives it looked mostly mental to me.  Wiggins did a nice job, and Tatum never really got comfortable the entire series.  He'd have an open lane to the hoop and he'd start Eurostepping.  He'd have a layup and he'd flick up some crazy hook/scoop shots.  He was uncomfortable and doubting the moves that have worked all year for him. He began looking like he was scared of contact on his drives like he was during his first couple of years when he was skinny.  It could be that he was trying to protect his shoulder, but to me it looked like Tatum's brain wasn't up for the challenge.  He was all discombobulated in his thought processes.

Working all year for him?  He missed the fourth-most layups if anyone in the NBA all year.

Instead of protecting the ball when he collects it on a drive, holding it close to his chest away from the defender, he sticks both arms out straight like he’s holding a stinky trash bag away from his nose trying to draw a foul, while he’s Eurostepping and not getting great elevation on his release.

Who taught him that?  He needs to stop with this wild driving into traffic and not know big what he’s gonna do (go strong? try to draw a foul? kick it out to a shooter?) and be decisive.  This goes for Jaylen “Baby Giraffe on Ice” Brown.

Catch a pass and either shoot it or pump fake.  If the pump fake works, then drive.  If not then pass the ball and MOVE! 

Enough of the one-on-one And-1 dribbling demonstrations that go nowhere.

Agreed.  This incessant dribbling/dancing with the ball, between the legs, behind the back, non-sense that usually leads to everyone standing and watching, or Butterfinger Brown losing the ball/dribbling off his own foot is so indicative of the selfish, ISO play that has plagued this team for years, even under Brad.  JT and JB are talented but they still have a lot to learn.

JT needs to learn to go up strong, learn a couple post "McHale like" back to basket moves like a a fade away, pump fake, up and under.  He needs more moves besides three pointers and dribbling. 

[Big333223]

He's 24. That's how I feel about his performance.

As others have noted, his numbers are very similar to Lebron's first finals stats.

Tatum hasn't even entered his prime yet. He didn't live up to expectations this series but those expectations were set by All NBA 1st team caliber player all year long. The shoulder, the fatigue, the youth, the defense... It all contributed.

It was a disappointing performance but let's not forget that this is a great scorer who just led both finals teams in assists for the series. If he figures out the balance next season, he'll be even better and he'll be ready for those bright lights.

[SparzWizard]

Folks be saying that Tatum loved Kobe so much that he couldn't let the Celtics pass the Lakers in titles

I hope that better not be true with Tatum's mentality

[gouki88]

Folks be saying that Tatum loved Kobe so much that he couldn't let the Celtics pass the Lakers in titles

I hope that better not be true with Tatum's mentality

This is just the most absurd thing ever. Please, just think about what it is that you’re posting. Do you really think such a stupid thing is remotely true?

[gouki88]

Lebron in 07: 22 ppg, 7 rpg, 6 apg, 6 turnovers per game 32-90 FGs (35.5%), 4-20 from 3 (20%), 69% FT

Kobe in 00: 15.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 33-90 FGs (36.6%), 2-10 from 3 (20%), 91% FT

Larry in 81: 15.7 ppg, 15.7rpg (lol), 7apg, 3 turnovers per game, 39-93 FGs (41.9%), 1-3 from 3 (33%), 81% FT

Isiah Thomas in 88: 19.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 9 apg, 3.7 turnovers per game, 49-115 (42.6%), FGs, 5-17 from 3 (29.4%), 83% FT

Dirk in 06: 22.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 41-105 FGs (39%), 6-24 from 3 (25%), 89% FT

Moses in 81: 22.3 ppg, 15.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 48-119 FGs (40%), 69% FT

Tatum in 22: 21.5 ppg, 7 rpg, 7 assists, 4 turnovers per game 44-120 FGs (36.7%), 20-44 from 3 (45.4%), 65% FTs

I’m sure I could find more examples, but the point is that several genuine superstars of the NBA have floundered in their first Finals appearance. Guys like Dirk & Moses were both 25 or older too. I’m pretty sure it worked out in the end for those guys.