Per Stevens: Tatum has unlimited potential

[slightly biased bias fan]

Although Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum hasn't made the jump some expected of him in his second year, head coach Brad Stevens remains confident in the 20-year-old's future.

"As far as growing, I think that he's got unlimited growth ahead," Stevens said Saturday, per The Athletic's Jay King. "That's a good thing and a responsibility...so that's something that comes with getting as many accolades and being as good as he is at 19."

Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving hit on a critique some have directed toward both Tatum and Jaylen Brown with Boston struggling somewhat out of the gate."I think last year, the young guys that are in the locker room now, some of the guys that are playing, they were a little bit younger," Irving said in mid-November with the team 9-7, per ESPN.com's Tim Bontemps. "They weren't expected to do as much, and I think that the amount of pressure that we put on them to perform every single night is something that they have to get used to, being part of a great team like this."

[gpap]

Trying to increase his trade value for AD....

Nice Brad, I like it!

[coco]

Not to say Tatum is the answer at the wing; but It is virtually impossible wining a Championship without a dominant wing.

....and so AD is awesome, but the wings are almost your most important position in today’s NBA.

[rondofan1255]

Not to say Tatum is the answer at the wing; but It is virtually impossible wining a Championship without a dominant wing.

....and so AD is awesome, but the wings are almost your most important position in today’s NBA.

This. TP.

[RJ87]

Not to say Tatum is the answer at the wing; but It is virtually impossible wining a Championship without a dominant wing.

....and so AD is awesome, but the wings are almost your most important position in today’s NBA.

That's a stretch. Golden State won their first ring with Steph being dominant. Klay was important, but Curry and Draymond's defensive versatility is what made that team go pre-KD. In 2011, Dallas won a championship behind Dirk - their best wing (Caron Butler) was injured down the stretch. The Spurs pre-Leonard relied on Duncan.

So you can win without a dominant wing if you have an elite player in the mix.

[mr. dee]

Not to say Tatum is the answer at the wing; but It is virtually impossible wining a Championship without a dominant wing.

....and so AD is awesome, but the wings are almost your most important position in today’s NBA.

That's a stretch. Golden State won their first ring with Steph being dominant. Klay was important, but Curry and Draymond's defensive versatility is what made that team go pre-KD. In 2011, Dallas won a championship behind Dirk - their best wing (Caron Butler) was injured down the stretch. The Spurs pre-Leonard relied on Duncan.

So you can win without a dominant wing if you have an elite player in the mix.

Dallas had Shawn Marion who was a very good defender and overall solid player. They also have DeShawn Stevenson behind the bench.

Warriors have Iggy who was still in his prime who happens to win a Finals MVP guarding Lebron.

[RJ87]

Not to say Tatum is the answer at the wing; but It is virtually impossible wining a Championship without a dominant wing.

....and so AD is awesome, but the wings are almost your most important position in today’s NBA.

That's a stretch. Golden State won their first ring with Steph being dominant. Klay was important, but Curry and Draymond's defensive versatility is what made that team go pre-KD. In 2011, Dallas won a championship behind Dirk - their best wing (Caron Butler) was injured down the stretch. The Spurs pre-Leonard relied on Duncan.

So you can win without a dominant wing if you have an elite player in the mix.

Dallas had Shawn Marion who was a very good defender and overall solid player. They also have DeShawn Stevenson behind the bench.

He said dominant wing, not serviceable wing. Those guys were solid but certainly not dominant and not irreplaceable.

So let's say we include Tatum in an AD package, you can plug in that wing spot with a PJ Tucker type and be perfectly fine. Or you know, retain Marcus Morris.

You don't need a "dominant wing" to win if you have a top 5 player in the mix - which is exactly what AD is.

[10610786d]

How about some love for Tatum for his game against the Grizz? Not a lot of scoring, but the defense and hustle was really great to see. Really good to see the guy contribute in more ways than one.