Tatum Career Year Incoming?

[Big333223]

I think Tatum is going to come into this season salty about all the weird talk about him this season and about not winning FMVP so he'll be motivated to both shut people up and get back to the Finals for another shot at the trophy. Combine that with the confidence of being a champion, I think we're going to get the best season of Tatum's career.

[Vermont Green]

Tatum had a really good season last season, 27 pts / 8 rebs.  As to 3P%, he was 229 for 609 last season (37.6%).  If he makes only 15 more in the season, he will be over 40%.  He ends up being the guy who is forced to take many of the end of shot clock shots or other more forced shots, but I think he will be more consistent from 3 this season than last.

Overall, he is our top scorer and rebounder and second best assists.  I don't think people fully appreciate how important his rebounding is.  He got 534 rebounds last season.  Horford only got 331 and Porzingis only 312, our next two highest.  I know this whole play big/play small thing has been debated to death but the only reason that we can play so often with one big and keep so many scorers on the floor is because of how well Tatum rebounds and defends opposing PFs.  He had 364 total assists, 2nd only to Derrick White at 377, so he is distributing at a high level too.

This versatility, to be the top scorer and the top rebounder and defend wings at a high level and defend PFs at a high level and produce about 5 assists/gm, seems to not get fully recognized.  He probably is a little salty and probably will come back strong and maybe his best season ever.  But they will find something to criticize him on.  If his 3P% is up a little, maybe his rebounding will be down a little, whatever, they will find something.

[Goldstar88]

Statistically, I don?t think so. Too many mouths to feed. I doubt he scores 30ppg again with this group and I?m fine with that.

[Phantom255x]

I will say, if Tatum can get his jumper and 3-point shot fixed, then that's scary for the league. He's still putting up awesome numbers and can rack up the rebounds/assists when double or triple teamed, but there have been a lot of times including postseason where he'll still have some open looks and just miss them. If he can start hitting those consistently then yeah, he can easily be a 28-30 PPG scorer again.

As for something like MVP, it's just gonna be tough because some other guys are on teams where they have to go beast-mode most games while JT can technically have off-nights but our team is pretty deep and can withstand that.

[michigan adam]

I'd be very happy with 30-9-6 with 40% from 3, very good defense, and efficient play.  Whether that translates to MVP makes no difference to me(I'm sure he would like it), but it certainly gets him in the conversation, and the C's in the hunt for the trophy.

[dannyboy35]

 Definitely don?t care who wins the league MVP. Just that everyone gets along. I suspect Jaylen will have a bigger leap that Tatum due to him being able to train all summer. He looks in even better shape. So I?m just hoping there?s no jealousy.

[wdleehi]

Best way to have a career year?    Just keep winning titles.   


At some point, those who only judge by raw stats will have to admit how good Tatum actually is. 

[Who]

No MVP.

This team is too deep. Tatum won't be able to stat-pad like other stars such as Doncic, Jokic, Embiid, Giannis. He won't get MVP mention. Honourable mention territory.

[keevsnick]

Look, anything could happen. My guess would be the Celtics take it a little easier with their starters this year, cut the minutes down a little and maybe give them a few extra days off. So I doubt he's going to get serious MVP consideration. But that said there's always the chance he goes crazy from three for the year, that's probably his easiest route to going up a level.

[Roy H.]

I'd love to see his most *efficient* year.  I don't care about counting stats, and I'm hoping that JT doesn't either.  If he goes out and tries to win MVP it will hurt the team.

[Big333223]

Statistically, I don?t think so. Too many mouths to feed. I doubt he scores 30ppg again with this group and I?m fine with that.

I'm not anticipating his scoring to go up either, but if h's a little bit more efficient and that opens up his passing to another assist per game and he locks in on defense every night... We could see an MVP level from Tatum that we haven't seen yet.

[jambr380]

With no KP for however long, I can see his scoring ticking up a little bit. KP was a 20ppg scorer last year. For Tatum to get MVP consideration, Jaylen would have to go down for a chunk of games.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I could see Tatum leaning in further to being one of the best all-around, versatile players in the NBA early in the season. We may need him to play the 4 a bit until KP gets back.

I could also see Jaylen Brown taking another step forward in his efficiency as a scorer, which should lead to his assist numbers going up too.

I honestly think this may be the best year for both of them coming.

[Silas]

I don't care much about MVP for the year but I would like to see JT give us a Bird like season with another championship and the following stats:
25-28pts/g; 10rebs/g; 7assists/g; with a shooting line of 50/40/90.  Go Cs!

[SHAQATTACK]

Hang # 19