Jayson Tatum's Rise to the Top
- Thread starter Marbleheader
- Start date
Milwaukee is a top contender but teams would just hunt Middleton every time down the floor. I don’t think Lillard and Giannis can overcome Middleton’s goofy eyes and buck teeth.
Now that White is shaving his head he can’t be hunted like that. He’s not a star but he can be credible in any match up
Every time I think of Middleton, this tweet comes to mind.
View: https://twitter.com/kingDiaws/status/1747796801351004206
View: https://twitter.com/kingDiaws/status/1747796801351004206
Makes you wonder why.
Though to be Fair I think Al totally out kicked his coverage with his wife too. And ha has like Prime Slater and Tasker as gunners.
During the game last night, Redick said Tatum has the highest “blow by” rate in the league. It’s not a freely available stat, but I thought that was interesting.
I don’t think anyone would say Tatum has an electric first step, probably just good. I’d consider that as pretty tangible evidence of what the threat of his pull-up does.
I don’t think anyone would say Tatum has an electric first step, probably just good. I’d consider that as pretty tangible evidence of what the threat of his pull-up does.
I think it’s also a function of his tighter handle combined with his excellent body control in traffic in the paint. His footwork has improved dramatically this season.
I don’t disagree with what you say, but blow by rate is just about the point of attack on the perimeter.
I would guess much of that has to do with how defenders try to play him out on the perimeter, getting right up in his grill.
Yes, which was my original point. Because of the threat of him pulling up, defenders are all up on him.
Inside and outside though, right? My point is that his footwork/handle have improved to where he can beat defenders on either side with ease.
He's also gotten stronger, so once he turns the shoulder on them now he is gone---they used to be able to redirect him a bit. But no more. That matters a lot after the blow-by...he often gets to the cup now cleanly, whereas he used to get redirected a step or two and that allows help to get to him more often (while also raising degree of difficulty on the layup)
I think this is why he had a brief slump after the ASB. Those bumps on the perimeter have been fouls for years, and since the break, the league have basically wiped them out. He’s seemingly adjusted now, and is super physical on drives.
i feel like half his blow bys now are really just muscling through dudes. not sure how they count a blow by
Double Clutch is a new one
Double clutch shots typically happen around or within the last two minutes of the game, with a point differential within two scores.
Tatum has had 19 shot attempts in this category, which is in line with most other NBA stars playing at guard or wing, and his numbers speak for themselves when stacked against the other NBA players competing in the 2024 playoffs with at least 12 double clutch shot attempts.
https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/celtics/where-does-tatum-rank-among-clutch-shooters-in-nba-playoffs
Double clutch shots typically happen around or within the last two minutes of the game, with a point differential within two scores.
Tatum has had 19 shot attempts in this category, which is in line with most other NBA stars playing at guard or wing, and his numbers speak for themselves when stacked against the other NBA players competing in the 2024 playoffs with at least 12 double clutch shot attempts.
https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/celtics/where-does-tatum-rank-among-clutch-shooters-in-nba-playoffs
Agreed, crunch time stats suffer from an SSS, especially for the Celtics who spent the year tarring & feathering teams over the first 43 minutes. I wonder how many shot attempts each of his teammates took.
Aren't the Bulls the best "clutch" team this year? The other 43 minutes matter, a lot, even/especially in the playoffs. This is like how people took the idea that elite iso/PnR playmaking is "the premium skill" and turned into "it's the only skill."
Move Drew into the Auerbach Center for 2 months and interview him for Charles Lee's spot (once he leaves)
I was watching youtubes from the end of last year's Game 6 against the Sixers and Game 7, particularly the blowout 3rd quarter. Couple notes: from 4:14 left in Game 6 to 7:21 left in Game 7, Tatum scored 63 points. 65 if you start at 6:31 of Game 6, which still keeps it under 48 minutes of game time. He outscored the Sixers in the 4th quarter of Game 6 (16-13) and the 3rd quarter of Game 7 (17-10). And a lot of his points were on drives past or threes over the MVP. So fun.
I think Tatum still sees himself as predominantly an isolation scorer rather than a "figure out what the game needs from him and do that" guy. He's made great strides in the right direction (see Miami game 1), but under pressure he reverts to being an iso guy (game 2). Sometimes it works (4th quarter Philly game 6 last year) but it doesn't work often enough. His greatness is not that of a great scorer but that of a guy who can do a little (and quite often a lot) of everything at both ends of the floor.
I don't think that's fair, if you're basing it on last night. He made some nice passes, set Jaylen Brown up for a wide open 3. I do think his defense was subpar last night, except for the team's brief flurry late in the 2nd quarter.
It never fails lol. The consensus everywhere was that Tatum was either too passive as a scorer, or that the team fell too in love with matchup hunting with whoever Herro was guarding. Come here and EJ saying that he was just looking to ISO.
Last edited:
I give up. Tatum played excellent ball last night, as befitting a player who desrerves an MVP award. If he can keep doing what he did last night, he will lead the Celtics to a championship.
That’s about as satirical as your usual posts, so don’t give up.
Tatum took 3 shots in the 4th quarter, 8 in the second half. He was content being used as a decoy, or moving the ball off of doubles. I honestly don’t know what you were watching.
Yep, that's exactly what I saw. Tatum's defense stunk. Nobody on this team needs to leave their man to help double Bam or any other Heat player.
Last edited:
I thought Tatum was really good on offense last night. There was only one possession where he forced it and threw up a bad shot that I can remember, and it was a play where he had Herro on him and looked like he thought he could get a call.
I have trouble denigrating Tatum in a game where Jrue and KP were as bad as they were. He wasn't one of the main reasons they lost
Q4. Winnable game. Tatum played the entire quarter. One of three from the field. 4 points. One rebound. One assist. One turnover. No blocks or steals. I think I'd limit any plaudits for him based on his failure to impact that game in any positive way when it mattered most.
This thread is called "Jayson Tatum's Rise to the Top" and much of the discussion is why he isn't (yet) being considered an MVP. I think requirement one of being seen as an MVP is "held to a higher standard than the supporting cast."