The Boston Celtics are figuring out all the different ways that Jayson Tatum can impact the game
The Boston Celtics already look like they hit a home run with their selection of Jayson Tatum. After immediately being thrusted into the starting lineup, he has not missed a beat, and looks like a player that will be keeping one of the biggest spots in the rotation.
It cannot be understated how good Tatum has been as a scorer. His efficiency is close to impossible right now, with just under 50 percent overall shooting, and just over 50 percent from three point range.
He can attack on all three levels, can get to the free throw line, and does not make the mistakes that disrupt any of the ball movement.
As it has always been, the top potential of Tatum lies in his offense, and he has been giving us a glimpse of what he might be able to become in the future.
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The offense is going to be the biggest part of Tatum’s game, but last night against the San Antonio Spurs is a great example of how he is a lot more than that.
Tatum was supposed to be a scoring specialist, without many other ways to impact the game, particularly as a rookie. The Celtics were worried about him holding up physically and becoming a defensive liability.
The Celtics were unsure of what kind of mistakes he might make on offense, and if he could become over reliant on isolation.
So far, absolutely none of that matters right now. Tatum is showcasing that he impacts the game in a lot more ways than just scoring.
We have all seen the rebounding already. He has an outside chance to lead the team and average double figures for the season. He is making sure that he is limiting the opportunities of his opponent, and is one of the biggest reasons why the Celtics are such an improved rebounding team.
He also has a bigger defensive impact than jus rebounds. Tatum is disruptive with his length, and his three blocks last night are a nice preview of another way he can impact the game. Tatum is showing us that players cannot simply attack him, because he can hold his own in any situation.
Tatum’s impact still goes beyond that. Tatum is a fluid offensive player who maintains ball movement when it is needed. He understands how to play on both ends in transition.
Tatum is just a rookie, but he is making the lives of his teammates a lot easier in a lot of different ways. The Celtics have been giving Tatum a ton of minutes this season, and his performance against the Spurs is a great reason why.
The Celtics no longer just look for scoring out of Tatum, and whether or not he is shooting well is not going to determine his minutes. Stevens sees how many different ways he is impacting the game, and he is embracing everything that Tatum has to offer.
The offense is the most important and is where Tatum has his biggest impact, but to have this kind of stability and trust in a 19 year old rookie is unprecedented.
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The Celtics are still discovering all the different ways that Tatum is special, and it has been truly amazing to watch how many different ways he is able to impact the game.