Tatum got the bag(5 years, $195 million)

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Obviously I have no idea what motivates Jason Tatum. And it's obvious from his +/- numbers that he impacts the team play in an incredibly effective way. But what I hear from him publicly seems to be more about individual accolades and less about a burning desire to see the Celtics win championships. Call me old fashioned, but I'd like a little more of the latter and less of the former. That's all.
I get that, but there are plenty of athletes who talk at length about how committed they are to winning championships but then don't walk the walk.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Obviously I have no idea what motivates Jason Tatum. And it's obvious from his +/- numbers that he impacts the team play in an incredibly effective way. But what I hear from him publicly seems to be more about individual accolades and less about a burning desire to see the Celtics win championships. Call me old fashioned, but I'd like a little more of the latter and less of the former. That's all.
If Tatum was interested in individual accolades over team accomplishments then he wouldn’t want Bradley Beal anywhere around this team to take any of his touches. The greater the individual player he is.....the best chance of this Celtics team winning a Championship.
 

The Social Chair

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Probably the following year after his buddy joins him

obviously, you're joking. BUT it's a pretty standard progression from a future NBA superstar.
1. Put up #'s in regular season and playoffs... check
2. All-Star games/All-NBA... check
3. Get MAX /Sneaker deal / National ad campaigns... check
4. Olympic Gold... check
5. Surround yourself with two Stars/familiarize yourself with new teammates.... 2/3s of the way there
6. Get over the age of 25 when fully grown...
7. Start playing in Championships and winning them...

It's all about the 2023 playoffs and beyond...sorry you're going to have to be patient.
Between 6/7 is 'leave the team that drafted you to play in Miami/LA/Hometown with AAU or Olympic friends'.
 

Fishy1

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Tatum is also a guy who's talked publicly about loving to play with other guys: IIRC, he's said as much about Smart, Rob Williams, and Aaron Nesmith. The guy likes to win, and his frustration when he doesn't is palpable on the court.

I think if you take the worst possible read on his personality, Kevin Durant is a guy who wants personal accolades and to carve out his place in the Basketball Pantheon. I'd still want him starting at forward on my team over nearly anybody. Winning an NBA championship, after all, is the only personal accolade that really matters. While this is a team sport, everyone knows that superstars win championships.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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NBA 2k ratings are a huge deal, especially amongst the younger players - that may not be apparent on this forum given the demographics. I don't know what that clip says about Tatum's desire to win a ring but the fact that he cares about something else that is pretty competitive suggests that he is focused on the right things. I suspect Tatum and many NBA players would list video games as their next biggest consumer of their time after hooping - the fact that he is so passionate about something that is effectively directly related to his actual performance suggests that even if he doesn't care about winning a championship, he might still get there in pursuit of a better video game ranking.

Or what @Fishy1 said right down to wanting KD as my first pick.
 

bakahump

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I mean i got the impression from that clip that he was kinda laughing it off playing along and after the camera stopped got a Check from EA.
 

the moops

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Obviously I have no idea what motivates Jason Tatum. And it's obvious from his +/- numbers that he impacts the team play in an incredibly effective way. But what I hear from him publicly seems to be more about individual accolades and less about a burning desire to see the Celtics win championships. Call me old fashioned, but I'd like a little more of the latter and less of the former. That's all.
“If we’re going to go down there, we might as well try to win a championship. That’s our goal and our focus. Everybody is in the same boat, nobody has played around the league, so we’re starting from ground zero, and whoever can normalize it and not make any excuses, and just play basketball – that will be the most successful team.”

“That’s always been the goal, to get there and win one,” he said. “We always talk about all the banners that we have and seeing them every day at the Garden or at practice. That’s all that really matters, especially in Boston, is getting another championship.”
 

HomeRunBaker

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“If we’re going to go down there, we might as well try to win a championship. That’s our goal and our focus. Everybody is in the same boat, nobody has played around the league, so we’re starting from ground zero, and whoever can normalize it and not make any excuses, and just play basketball – that will be the most successful team.”

“That’s always been the goal, to get there and win one,” he said. “We always talk about all the banners that we have and seeing them every day at the Garden or at practice. That’s all that really matters, especially in Boston, is getting another championship.”
- Aric Holman, prior to Tuesday’s Championship game vs Kings
 

benhogan

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Obviously I have no idea what motivates Jason Tatum. And it's obvious from his +/- numbers that he impacts the team play in an incredibly effective way. But what I hear from him publicly seems to be more about individual accolades and less about a burning desire to see the Celtics win championships. Call me old fashioned, but I'd like a little more of the latter and less of the former. That's all.
The NBA2k rating has been an ongoing joke with Tatum for years. I recall him tweeting about it a few years ago. Take2 would be negligent if they didn't get a reaction from him.

FWIW there are plenty of YouTube videos of him talking team / winning Championships. Tatum's priorities are the last thing we have to worry about. The guy works his arse off in/offseason, has a private coach, is a young/mature father and has never had a negative off-court or locker room incident.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cz8NXIMHbo


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY2mv4j4t_E


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeySE6N6M7w


Between 6/7 is 'leave the team that drafted you to play in Miami/LA/Hometown with AAU or Olympic friends'.
Has that ever happened to a competitive Celtic team?
 

chilidawg

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The NBA2k rating has been an ongoing joke with Tatum for years. I recall him tweeting about it a few years ago. Take2 would be negligent if they didn't get a reaction from him.

FWIW there are plenty of YouTube videos of him talking team / winning Championships. Tatum's priorities are the last thing we have to worry about. The guy works his arse off in/offseason, has a private coach, is a young/mature father and has never had a negative off-court or locker room incident.
Thanks for digging these up and showing me I'm wrong. I always appreciate that approach.
 

RorschachsMask

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I came across this when I was looking up Smarts playoff numbers earlier, but Tatum’s last four playoff series have even insane.

27/10/3
24/10/5
27/10/6
31/6/5
 
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benhogan

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The only Celtic post- Decision who fits that description was Kyrie.

We'll find out soon enough if somebody has cap room to go after Jaylen Brown in a few years (GSW, ATL?).
My first thought was Ky-hex also, except he wasn't drafted by the Celtics.

If this team is as competitive as I/we think in 2-3 seasons there will be no need for them to split for the sunshine. Plus everything points to the team spending well into the luxury cap in future seasons on talent. Which should be attractive (OKC's cheapness cost them from keeping their young BIG3)

Thanks for digging these up and showing me I'm wrong. I always appreciate that approach.
Nobody cares if you're right or wrong. You're entitled to your opinion

They are just a handful of short vids that hardcore Celtic fans may appreciate with 6 weeks until the start of training camp.
 

DJnVa

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Obviously I have no idea what motivates Jason Tatum. And it's obvious from his +/- numbers that he impacts the team play in an incredibly effective way. But what I hear from him publicly seems to be more about individual accolades and less about a burning desire to see the Celtics win championships. Call me old fashioned, but I'd like a little more of the latter and less of the former. That's all.
He has different messages for different audiences. Brady also did a commercial about increasing his Madden rating. It's marketing, not his offseason plan.
 

Jimbodandy

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I know there is a pump from being in the gym but its hard to imagine those arms on a long limbed 6'9" (or whatever) dude. Yikes
Yeah. His frame is so great for this. We're talking about elite body + elite work ethic + elite methods/trainers. It's awesome to behold.
 

Cesar Crespo

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I'm guessing it's a very flattering pic. We see these types of pics every off season. Slim Pablo, ripped Yi JIanlian.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Why do you hate fun? Let us drool over his rippling biceps for a minute here.
Because we fall for it every off season. He's going to look like the same Jayson Tatum. He didn't gain 20 pounds of muscle during the summer. At most, he gained maybe 5 and that's with the benefit of steroids.
 

Cesar Crespo

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I mean, Yi did fill out as an older guy. Didn't help him suck any less though.
Fill out how? He toned up maybe. He didn't really add much weight. Unless you mean post NBA. Doesn't look much bigger to me.

He's won the MVP 5 straight times in his league though, apparently. 43897
 

slamminsammya

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Because we fall for it every off season. He's going to look like the same Jayson Tatum. He didn't gain 20 pounds of muscle during the summer. At most, he gained maybe 5 and that's with the benefit of steroids.
He didn't look like the same Jayson Tatum last year, I don't see why he won't come back even more buffed up.

Also, steroids? I was joking initially about hating fun but why you gotta muck up this thread with this unsubstantiated claim about cheating?
 

Cesar Crespo

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He didn't look like the same Jayson Tatum last year, I don't see why he won't come back even more buffed up.

Also, steroids? I was joking initially about hating fun but why you gotta muck up this thread with this unsubstantiated claim about cheating?
He didn't gain 5 pounds of muscle. He didn't cheat. If he did gain 5-10 lbs of muscle during 1 summer... yeah.

He looks exactly the same to me, just in the middle of being pumped.
 

Jimbodandy

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He didn't gain 5 pounds of muscle. He didn't cheat. If he did gain 5-10 lbs of muscle during 1 summer... yeah.

He looks exactly the same to me, just in the middle of being swole.
Fwiw, these guys don't ever stop anymore. I'd be surprised if he didn't have 5-10 pounds more of muscle now than he did New Year's Day. Of course five pounds of muscle in the last month would be dubious.
 

benhogan

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Fwiw, these guys don't ever stop anymore. I'd be surprised if he didn't have 5-10 pounds more of muscle now than he did New Year's Day. Of course five pounds of muscle in the last month would be dubious.
Agreed, it's fluid, especially with JT. He's been making adjustments/leaps every 4mths. We can go through all the things he's corrected on the fly: whether it was footwork in the lane, FG% around the rim, shot selection from midrange, sidestep 3, ISO from the top, drawing fouls by playing through the defender, etc

It wouldn't be shocking if he was noticeably bigger than COVID Tatum. Last season was special for all the wrong reasons. With his incessant work ethic, subsequent accomplishments, it's only around here that he'd be lumped in with Panda's offseason Ice Cream Sundae training regime
 

Cesar Crespo

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Agreed, it's fluid, especially with JT. He's been making adjustments/leaps every 4mths. We can go through all the things he's corrected on the fly: whether it was footwork in the lane, FG% around the rim, shot selection from midrange, sidestep 3, ISO from the top, drawing fouls by playing through the defender, etc

It wouldn't be shocking if he was noticeably bigger than COVID Tatum. Last season was special for all the wrong reasons. With his incessant work ethic, subsequent accomplishments, it's only around here that he'd be lumped in with Panda :rolleyes:
It's possible he lost a little weight during Covid. He's not exactly small here though. This is no pump.

43899
 

the moops

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Because we fall for it every off season. He's going to look like the same Jayson Tatum. He didn't gain 20 pounds of muscle during the summer. At most, he gained maybe 5 and that's with the benefit of steroids.
Did anybody claim he gained 20 pounds of muscle? And the steroid claim is ridiculously unnecessary
 

TripleOT

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In a very quiet period for the NBA, a workout pic of a jacked Tatum is breaking the internet. We’ve seen him get a bit stronger every season, and as he gets into his mid-20s, it is no surprise that a guy with his work ethic would add muscle.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Did anybody claim he gained 20 pounds of muscle? And the steroid claim is ridiculously unnecessary
It wasn't a claim. It was stated because every off season it's reported how a player completely transformed his body and added 20 pounds of muscle. To actually do so would require some serious steroid usage. Or most of the weight was actually fat. Or maybe I just remember Trot Nixon off seasons all too well.

He's basically the same size as before. We'll see in October I guess.

edit: Rather it was a hypothetical statement. The most amount of muscle anyone is going to gain in a month or 2 is 5 pounds, and that would require some heavy steroid usage.
 

djbayko

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I know there is a pump from being in the gym but its hard to imagine those arms on a long limbed 6'9" (or whatever) dude. Yikes
It's called a gym pump. Best time for pics is during/after workout. I'm sure Tatum is putting on lean mass, but he's not going to look like Arnold out on the court this year.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Jacked Nomar!! I’d much prefer him working with Brady’s plyometrics guy but I don’t run the team.
Right. I didn't mean to come across as harsh or anything on Tatum. He's in good shape and has always been in excellent condition. He also has added some muscle over the years. I'm sure he's a workout warrior. I have no concerns about him and Jaylen Brown showing to camp in shape (unlike Smart, Grant, Romeo*).

But that picture is done at the perfect angle and the perfect lighting. It's basically a glamour shot. He also looks less jacked in the 2nd pic than the 1st pic. We also saw him playing basketball games in July. He has the same sinewy legs/torso and his arms/shoulders have been decent for awhile now. This is why Tatum's wingspan for his height isn't all that great but his standing reach is.

*Injury related fatigue/atrophy. I think atrophy is the right word, anyway.
 

Marciano490

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It wasn't a claim. It was stated because every off season it's reported how a player completely transformed his body and added 20 pounds of muscle. To actually do so would require some serious steroid usage. Or most of the weight was actually fat. Or maybe I just remember Trot Nixon off seasons all too well.

He's basically the same size as before. We'll see in October I guess.

edit: Rather it was a hypothetical statement. The most amount of muscle anyone is going to gain in a month or 2 is 5 pounds, and that would require some heavy steroid usage.
This is enormously untrue, even for people with barely above average genetics.
 

ColonelMustard

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100LB Goblets are very impressive regardless of the Instagram lighting/pump. The 60LB stability and core work look challenging.

He's got the talent, putting in the work, and breaking the internet. Season can't come soon enough.
 
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Cesar Crespo

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reggiecleveland

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Jacked Nomar!! I’d much prefer him working with Brady’s plyometrics guy but I don’t run the team.
I tend to agree. He's plenty strong, but doesn't blow by as many people off the bounce easily. But, he is Birdesque unstoppable in the mid post, so maybe that is the plan, to get switches and have him use power close to the hoop on small guys and rain threes on big guys.
 

Euclis20

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Everything I've read says healthy individuals can gain 1-2 lbs of lean muscle mass a month. Can you gain 20-30 lbs in a month? Sure. But it aint all lean muscle.

It probably depends on what you read, like everything else. https://www.verywellfit.com/how-much-muscle-in-a-month-3498519

Of course it's the internet so you can find any article supporting any claim.
There's a world of difference between 1-2 pounds a month and 20-30 pounds a month. I remember what it was like for me around his age (5'10 160, a D3 college athlete), then compare that to Tatum (6'8 210 genetic lottery winner with access to the best nutrition and workout materials in the world). 5-10 pounds in a summer, at his age, seems very possible (with or without PEDs).
 

Cesar Crespo

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There's a world of difference between 1-2 pounds a month and 20-30 pounds a month. I remember what it was like for me around his age (5'10 160, a D3 college athlete), then compare that to Tatum (6'8 210 genetic lottery winner with access to the best nutrition and workout materials in the world). 5-10 pounds in a summer, at his age, seems very possible (with or without PEDs).
A full summer, yeah. He was playing basketball in July and that pic was end of August.