Tatum 0 assists last night

[chambers]

Any cause for concern? He averaged like 2 in college. Is he too predictable in that he doesn't pass?

Not meaning to sound rude, but are you just digging for any excuse to be negative right now?

You have a guy who is thus far dominating the Summer League to the tune of averaging 21 points (on 47% / 30% / 90% shooting), 10 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.75 steals and only 1.0 turnover across his first four summer games...and you're asking if we should be concerned because he had one game without any assists? 

Do you know Anthony Davis didn't record any blocks on his last regular season game?  Should we be concerned that AD just forgot how to play defense?

I mean seriously, how many 19 year olds do you know of who came in to the NBA at 6'8" as a SF/PF, and put on a summer league assist frenzy?   Even Fultz is only average 3 APG so far, and he's a PG who is raved about for elite his P&R game!

Lets calm the farm a little shall we?

Have you watched the games yet?

It honestly is a bit of a concern. He is getting the ball and going ISO almost every single time. Like not even considering looking for a pass when an extra pass would get a better shot. Instead, he receives the ball and puts his head down, looking to beat his player 1v1. Like almost every time. In the Blazers SL game it was comical- he was an absolute ball hog.
It's a cause for concern of lack of IQ and team awareness.
Great players are always looking to make the best play which is often a pass.

Brad and the vets will get really stuck into him but it's slightly concerning. Just watch the games and you'll see what I mean.
BTW I love Tatum and he will be an All Star at a minimum, but he needs to pass more, especially on this Celtics team with Brad.

[willyd24]

I'm not worried about it one bit. Yes, he doesn't really look for the pass but can you blame him? Half of our Summer League roster has played pretty awful and he's a competitor that wants to win ball games so naturally he is going to try and score the basketball. I think once he gets on the real roster with guys that can shoot and score more consistently then I think his assists numbers will start to increase. Another thing that you have to take into account is that everyone on this roster is trying to make the roster so as soon as they get the ball they just shoot so why shouldn't he? I'd rather have him taking shots than Abdel Nader taking all sorts of crazy shots whenever he touches the ball.

[tazzmaniac]

Any cause for concern? He averaged like 2 in college. Is he too predictable in that he doesn't pass?

Not meaning to sound rude, but are you just digging for any excuse to be negative right now?

You have a guy who is thus far dominating the Summer League to the tune of averaging 21 points (on 47% / 30% / 90% shooting), 10 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.75 steals and only 1.0 turnover across his first four summer games...and you're asking if we should be concerned because he had one game without any assists? 

Do you know Anthony Davis didn't record any blocks on his last regular season game?  Should we be concerned that AD just forgot how to play defense?

I mean seriously, how many 19 year olds do you know of who came in to the NBA at 6'8" as a SF/PF, and put on a summer league assist frenzy?   Even Fultz is only average 3 APG so far, and he's a PG who is raved about for elite his P&R game!

Lets calm the farm a little shall we?

Have you watched the games yet?

It honestly is a bit of a concern. He is getting the ball and going ISO almost every single time. Like not even considering looking for a pass when an extra pass would get a better shot. Instead, he receives the ball and puts his head down, looking to beat his player 1v1. Like almost every time. In the Blazers SL game it was comical- he was an absolute ball hog.
It's a cause for concern of lack of IQ and team awareness.
Great players are always looking to make the best play which is often a pass.

Brad and the vets will get really stuck into him but it's slightly concerning. Just watch the games and you'll see what I mean.
BTW I love Tatum and he will be an All Star at a minimum, but he needs to pass more, especially on this Celtics team with Brad.

Unless you're a lesser player just trying to make a team, what happens in Summer League, good or bad, should stay in Summer League. 

[moiso]

Being so focused on his one on one move and the basket probably contributes to Tatum being so good at it.  He's not paying much attention to the distracting noise all around him on the court.

He will definitely have to become more aware of his teammates, and he will.  But it's not like he's been missing wide open cutters in the summer league either.  Guys stand around and watch him when he gets the ball.

Maybe in the regular season, if someone else like Isaiah is on a roll and Tatum starts forcing up bad shots it will be a little concerning, but it's not a concern now.

One more thing- every freaking player in the summer league has weaknesses and things they need to work on- from Jalen Brown's ballhandling to Zach Collins' body.  Tatum looks like the most perfect and complete player in the whole summer league, with the most insignificant weakness list.  It does seem like nitpicking to focus on that one tiny aspect of his game.

[Casperian]

Pff, who needs assists when you can just go for the long iso two?

I mean, it's not like that's exactly the kind of shot NBA defenses are happy to give up...

[hwangjini_1]

my god people, it's summer league. sigh. 

[moiso]

Pff, who needs assists when you can just go for the long iso two?

I mean, it's not like that's exactly the kind of shot NBA defenses are happy to give up...

Most players don't shoot it well enough to make it worth not going for the extra point.  I don't think teams are happy to let Demar Derozan shoot them.