Ah yeah, they do wonky stuff with O and DRtg. Probably better to use the on/off and lineup data there.The numbers were from basketball-reference.com.
Ah yeah, they do wonky stuff with O and DRtg. Probably better to use the on/off and lineup data there.The numbers were from basketball-reference.com.
NM, already covered.The numbers were from basketball-reference.com.
I thought it was just the opposite. BBref takes overall defensive team ratings and then adjusts using box score numbers like blocks and steals to come up with a number for each player.BBref does DRtg purely by team points per 100 with the player on the floor. There is zero correction for lineup factors there.
Yeah this is correct I think. It's a bizarre approach.I thought it was just the opposite. BBref takes overall defensive team ratings and then adjusts using box score numbers like blocks and steals to come up with a number for each player.
Yeah I think Tatum needs to develop a different move to score in those areas than what he has shown so far—if he shoots in those areas at all. The floater is a big no-go, and because he is not the quickest guy, he ends up relying on tough fadeaway shots a lot of the time.Agree with all of this. In general, I think that a certain percentage of midrange inside of 15 or so is not a bad thing. For Tatun, maybe that's more like 16-17 at the top end. It makes people not sell out on the drive. Brown is destroying that right now. Tatum and Hayward are good shooters. If it's in your bag, and opponents have to respect it, I'd be shocked if Brad minds the occasional one. It's the 21 footers that are bad shots, unless there's 1 second on the clock.
Yeah I don't understand that even a little, must hate Harden. But pretty cool to see Tatum being talked about like that, dude doesn't turn 22 for almost a month.Westbrook 10th?
At first, I thought great, they are considering defense more.
Trae is just such a dumpster fire defensively--at least Luka has size. The Hawks look halfway credible on defense with Trae out.Definitely
Giannis
Probably
Luka
Trae
That's it. AD and Kawhi are better players, but I wouldn't trade Tatum for either. Same goes for Harden, Lebron, and a few others.
I know. It's honestly gut. I expect his shooting and overall command to continue to improve, even to the point that his atrocious defense just doesn't matter. It's far easier to make a case for Kawhi et al. I get it.Trae is just such a dumpster fire defensively--at least Luka has size.
From your lips to God's ears, brother.Anyway, hopefully the All-NBA voters share your perspective on the value of defense and Tatum doesn't get paid!
I take the opposite tack. Given all the work that Kyrantie has put into poaching Tatum to help them contend in their declining years (and were putting in before the 2019 season, Danny screwed up not unloading that colon cancer last winter), I hope that the voters focus firmly on the D, because that’s Boston’s best bet at ensuring that Jayson plays most of his career here.Pray hard for the All-NBA voters next year to pay more attention to O than D and favor incumbents, otherwise Tatum will be getting a 30% max rather than a 25%.
Didn’t Simmons get the 5-year, no player option, but with an escalation to 30% if he hits the Rose Rule incentives? I imagine Tatum will sign the same thing in July.Yet for some reason Tatum vacationed with Kyrantie in the summer of ‘18 and recently admitted that he and Irving were still friends. You’re thinking of Jaylen. He hated Irving.
As far as contract mechanics, Tatum doesn’t need to accept a five year deal. He could demand a four year deal with an opt out. So, if only a 25% max deal were available, there’s a good chance that Tatum is Boston’s property for four more years, and maybe less if he Anthony Davised the Celtics. On the other hand, five year 30% max deal? He ain’t going nowhere.
Kyrie and Morris were Tatum's closest friends on the team. Having said that, Kyrie and Durant will be washed in 5 years, and Donvan Mitchell is the guy I expect Tatum to want to team up with. They became really close on the USA team, their contracts expire at the same time, and Mitchell is definitely leaving Utah.Kyrie and Tatum hated each other, and both Durant and Irving will be in serious decline by the time Tatum is free agent.
Giannis, that's it. JT not close to being a finished productProbably about time to play "who would you trade Tatum for straight up?" Factor in age, contract, position, and room/ability to improve--ie not "who do you want for the playoffs this year?"
Yes:
Giannis (with assurances to re-sign, although post-Kyrie that's tricky)
Kawhi (with re-sign assurances)
Luka (in a different world as a playmaker/offensive engine, the most valuable skill; Tatum seems on track to be able to generate better self-created 3s and is in a different world defensively. This was a slam-dunk for Luka in November, and Tatum has really closed the gap)
Really Good But No:
AD (on-court yes, would never feel confident he'd re-sign after last year)
Siakam (age matters and they’re not far apart currently)
Embiid (close, but health/fitness/mentality concerns)
Harden (this one is very close, and purely because of age. Reasonable minds could differ)
Simmons
Jokic
Booker
PG (age)
Zion (health concerns, reasonable minds can differ)
Dame (age)
Steph (age)
LeBron (age)
KD (age, health)
No:
Ja
KAT (Tatum, one scorer and roleplayers might make the playoffs in the East. KAT's D is so bad I'm not sure that's the case for him.)
Donovan
Jamaal Murray
Ingram
Conclusion
There are quibbles with the "Really Good But No" section I'm sure, and a lot of this is the NBA not being super-stacked in the young stars category atm. But I don't think this is a homer-ific list, and it's pretty ridiculous.
Pray hard for the All-NBA voters next year to pay more attention to O than D and favor incumbents, otherwise Tatum will be getting a 30% max rather than a 25%.
does Kobe's greatness extend to the grave?Our soon to be 22 year old looks more confident than I’ve ever seen him. Maybe it’s partially the competition but I also wonder how Kobe’s death affected him. I know it’s speculation but maybe it serioused (sic) him up a bit more and he’s decided this is going to be his team.
Our soon to be 22 year old looks more confident than I’ve ever seen him. Maybe it’s partially the competition but I also wonder how Kobe’s death affected him. I know it’s speculation but maybe it serioused (sic) him up a bit more and he’s decided this is going to be his team. Tatum looks to have moved into an assertive #1 scorer role and I don’t think he plans to relinquish it. Share? Yes, absolutely but I think we’re seeing him blossom to the next level right now. He’s a 25 ppg scorer going forward. And next year or the following, 30 ppg is where he’ll be. The game is getting easier for him on both ends. Give him another 8-12 pounds and look out.
“Yeah, I guess Pascal Siakam is a fine player, but Bae Tatum...”I mean, Siakam is still great. Probably a top 20 player. Tatum might already be a top 10 player.
Plus, JT is figuring out that with his release point and arc, it's pretty much unblockable. He can get that shot off at any time against virtually everyone in the league.Tatum is one of the longer guys to have that shot, which really changes what he can do with it.
Yes! When I say that Tatum is a scheme-making defender, I mean that he has the chance to have elite-center-like defensive impact in terms of letting everyone else do simpler jobs.It’s the defense, I mean the way he erases like half the court is awesome. I know it was there in the beginning but he has kept it up despite the increased load. The impact is akin to what centers used to provide under the old illegal defense regime.
*dont ever forget this passHe defends like the very best of Kevin Durant. Tatum isn't quite as long as Durant, but he's similar in his ability to be all over the floor at once - digging on the roll man, recovering to the three point line to close out shooters, blocking shots from the weak side and in transition. I think Jaylen Brown might be a touch better as an on-the-ball defender against a like-sized opponent; the Jimmy Butlers of the world. That's really valuable. But Tatum can switch 1-5 and protect the rim. He's the most versatile Celtics defender I can remember since Gerald Wallace*.
*That was a joke.
Not exactly just on his side step, but a majority of his off the dribble threes are that move.Seeing the threes going in so consistently must make it a lot easier for him to resist getting to the contested Kobe spots on the floor. Would love to see the stats specifically on his side-step 3pt shot, which appears to be absolutely lethal. Why try to back someone down for a tough fadeaway when you can just square up to the basket any time you want. He has also done a great job with extra dribbles to help him get closer to the rim when he's in attack mode. No more of those swooping layups that look pretty but telegraph the shot.
Jayson Tatum (26.8 points per game) has led seven Celtics averaging double-figures over the 10-1 stretch and has shot 24-for-45 from 3-point range over the last five. He already has a new career high for 3-pointers in a season (126), a result of him trading mid-range shots for 3-pointer and improving his shooting off the dribble. After shooting 32.0% on off-the-dribble 3-pointers over his first two seasons, Tatum has shot 39.2% this season, a mark that ranks sixth among 45 players who have attempted at least 100 pull-up 3-pointers.
I saw someone on Twitter posting that the only wing comparable to Tatum on volume and accuracy of self-created pullup 3s is PG. They were both in the 4/game at 38% range give or take.... Would love to see the stats specifically on his side-step 3pt shot, which appears to be absolutely lethal....