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Jayson Tatum More Surprising on Offense or Defense?

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 24: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the game against the New York Knicks on October 24, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 24: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the game against the New York Knicks on October 24, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jayson Tatum is surprising a lot of people in a lot of different ways this season

The Boston Celtics surprised some people when they announced that Jayson Tatum would be starting on opening night. Now everyone is able to see why they will not be able to take him out of it.

Tatum has been exceptional in every facet of the game. There has been no transition period for him, and he is having a positive impact on both ends any time he is on the court.

Brad Stevens is trusting him with some of the most minutes on the team, and he has not let him down yet.

One of the most impressive things about Tatum is how well rounded he is right now. He looks like one of the more complete players on the team, and his efficiency is absolutely through the roof.

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Tatum is one of the best rebounders on the team, and he is handling any matchup that Stevens is asking of him. He is using his length to be disruptive, and he is not having mental lapses.

A lot of people expected Tatum to be a defensive liability this season, and that is why the defense is so surprising. People did not think he could even be a serviceable defender, and it was expected that teams would be able to attack and exploit him any time on the court.

Tatum is proving that is absolutely not the case, and is showing that maybe the defensive liability concerns were all external.

Brad Stevens has made it clear every season that if you want playing time you have to be trusted on defense. Stevens would not have started Tatum at the beginning of the season if he did not have some faith in his defense.

The Celtics see the tools he has, and Tatum is making it work a lot faster than anyone was saying before the season started.

The offense is what everyone expected, but we are seeing something really special with Tatum so far. The sample size is so small that it makes this almost impossible to sustain, but Tatum has been one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA this season, and there is decent volume with his 15 points per game.

Tatum is four free throw percentage points from a 50/50/90 season, and that’s not the kind of thing you can expect from anyone in the NBA. You can expect him to dip below that, but Tatum is showing off how hie ceiling can be, without giving any indications of where is floor is.

Tatum is one of the most comfortable payers on the court, and is already attacking in as many ways as anyone on the team. He’s had the game where he forced his way to the free throw line, he’s shot lights out from three point range, and he has created for himself in the mid range.

He is blowing away every single possible test on the offensive end, and there is no way anyone could have seen this coming this quickly.

Tatum does not have to worry about losing these opportunities right now, because he is playing far too well to sacrifice anything to anyone right now.

Tatum is looking like he will be giving Ben Simmons a great race for Rookie of the Year, but it cannot be understated how important it is that Tatum is doing this on a top team in the East.

Tatum has absolutely no problems transitioning to the quality of the NBA, and that goes for getting comfortable with his teammates, and dealing with his opponents.

From the outside, Tatum’s defense has to be the most surprising thing this season. Offense was expected by everyone right away with him, and very few saw this kind of defensive potential this early on.

That being said, what Tatum is doing on offense is still what makes him so special. This is a player that Stevens is going to be able to use in so many different ways, and he is excelling at every single thing Stevens needs from him.

The Celtics have unbelievable offensive firepower with Kyrie Irving, Al Horford and, when healthy, Gordon Hayward, and Tatum is showing flashes of being right up there with them.

Next: Are the Boston Celtics Favorites in the East Again?

It is way too early to expect him to maintain this level of play, but that is the kind of ceiling he is showing us that he has. Tatum showcasing this kind of unbelievable potential in his rookie season could be the difference in bringing this team back to title contention.

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