Did Tatum flip a switch?
Jayson Tatum dare I say Quietly dropped 53 on the Timberwolves head the other night and backed that up with a 28 and 10 night in the Celtics best win of the season over Denver. It’s not the numbers that make me ask the question if a flip has been switched. It’s the approach. Jared Weiss wrote a ton of complicated basketball words in a great article in the Athletic here The Athletic. Jared goes on to describe in detail the way Tatum is approaching is pick and roll game. It’s interesting and technical stuff which is not insignificant, but all dull if you’re not a hoops nerd. I’ m more of a broad stroke kind of fellah.
I look at Tatum’s last few games and I see him attacking and getting to the line. I see him looking to finish more at the rim instead of playing for a foul, missing a lay up, bitching to the ref, rinse, wash, repeat. So I’m wondering to myself is this part of the learning curve of an uber talented young player or has Tatum been in neutral all season until Perk chirped him on Twitter?
I paint in broad strokes because my brain is dumb, but I also do fancy myself a hoops nerd so Tatum’s game has been something I have been heavily invested in since Danny pantsed “The Process”. The first thing I noticed was he was not great going to the rim or at, near, or around the rim. He lead the league in 3 pointers made an % as a rookie for like 2 months. The kid as always been a lights out shooter, the problem is he knows it.
The other frustrating part of his game is the “Gordon Hayward drag the ball out to 1/2 court, everybody spread wide and let me run by this guy” approach. That’s all good when you are the fastest most athletic guy in the gym. Tatum is already no longer that guy in the NBA. For as athletic and talented as he is offensively his body control is not great. Just watch how Jaylen finished at the rim and Jayson. Tatum generally has a flaying akward body position, but he’s good enough to make it work a fair amount of the time. Jaylen has developed a superior approach with pump fakes and a solid foundation on his drives.
I have also been clamoring for Tatum to develop a strong post up and deliberate back to the basket approach around the rim. The second he decided he can dominate inside with footwork and strength I will drop the “budding” title in superstar. Please reference Lebron, Kobe, Pierce, Etc. All the great players developed this low post game mid way through their career and it took them to another level all around not just scoring. You can see the floor differently and operate an offense from there. Trust me, now as a season Men’s league player who refuses to jump and risk a 10,000 ankle sprain. The low post old man game has his advantages.
I get the NBA is all about 3’s now and the Celtics are super keen on the idea of 3’s or lay ups only. Here’s what I have to say about that. It’s fucking stupid. #1 you dont have the personal. #2 ever heard of Bill Belichick? Try zigging while everyone else’s is zagging for me one time.
I don’t mean to dump on Brad and the Celtics system, but if that’s what is holding Tatum back from crystalizing his game then bring me Perk. A little build break build may have been the trick for Tatum’s switch.