Will Tatum be a problem as a starter in the playoffs?

[Monkhouse]

Jayson Tatum could become the first Celtics rookie to start all 82 since Larry Bird...

What?... there's about 10 to 12 games left and Tatum has been out a few. Confused by this post lol

The Celtics have played 65 games, and Taytum has started all of them.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2018.html




Looking back, of the few rookies that had a chance to do this, I think I'm most surprised ML Carr actually showed some restraint and brought Walker off the bench for several games (he only started 68 of 82).  He started him at all 5 positions and seemingly let him do whatever he wanted, but still tried bringing him off the bench midseason.

At first I was very confused, because I remember distinctly that Tatum missed 2nf half of the Lakers game with the soreness in his lower body and knee/hip. I thought he missed a game but it seems that he only played very small minutes which might've confused me originally lol.

I see thanks for clearing it up.

That's astounding though. It's crazy to believe Tatum is able to bounce back from being a father, baby mama drama, being asked to start heavy minutes and his 3pt shooting has been amazing while coming into full circle for us. Bird was healthy from 23 to 29, but I think slowly after that his body caught up with him. Let's hope the same doesn't applies to Tatum. Although ending up as a hall of fame like Bird wouldn't be that bad lol.

[CF033]

As good as we've been this year this team is still more about the future than it is about the present. The fact that we're debating about whether our starting 19 year old rookie is going to be a problem in the playoffs or not is a great sign. Personally, I want Tatum to absorb as much experience as possible this year so he can improve for the next.

Brown and Tatum are going to be terrors for other teams next year. Brown has been looking so much more confident in the last chunk of the season and getting much better at finishing at the rim (I fully believe that he's on his way to becoming an all star player). Tatum will most likely make a jump next year like Brown did this year. Hayward will be back.

I believe that Ainge is building something really special right now and this season will be fondly remembered as a major growth year.

[Big333223]

Tatum hasn't been able to sustain his hot start but I think his "slump" is being overblown.

In 6 games since the all star break, he's averaging only 10.7 ppg but shooting .451/.533/1.000 and turning it over less than once per game.

Since January 1st, he's averaging 12 ppg on .425/.375/.864.

He's playing fewer minutes, which is indicative of some of the problems he's had as the season has gone on but he's still giving the team productive minutes. I'm not worried. Especially, as others have said, things slow down a bit in the playoffs and there are no back-to-backs which should help him.