What Should Fans Expect From Jayson Tatum Next Season?
What should fans expect from star youngster Jayson Tatum after a great postseason performance?
Jayson Tatum had a phenomenal rookie season. Stepping into the starting lineup after Gordon Hayward went down with that gruesome injury on opening night, a lot of pressure was put upon this young man.
He then proceeded to prove all of the doubters wrong who questioned his ability to score in the NBA . This past season Tatum averaged nearly fourteen points per game for the Celtics along with five rebounds.
The Celtics rookie also proved that he can shoot the three ball at a high level in the pros. He ranked near the top of the NBA in three-point percentage at a deadly 43.4%. During the playoffs Tatum was arguably even more impressive, increasing his scoring average and at times was the number one scoring option for the team. Despite a very impressive rookie season, Tatum has a lot of room for growth and will surely improve.
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With Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward returning next season fully healthy, Tatum’s role as a scorer may be diminished. Playing with two all-stars will likely lead to a lower usage rate.
Tatum may take a few less field goal attempts per game, but his efficiency will surely rise. Playing with so many great players will allow for more open looks for the twenty year old.
Also, Tatum will likely add-on some extra weight this off-season in order to get stronger. One of the few criticisms that individuals had of Tatum this season was that he lacked strength when going to the basket.
Occasionally, he would get the ball stripped from his possession when driving on stronger defenders. Adding some muscle will allow for Tatum to become an even better finisher around the rim next year.
Overall, expect more of the same from Tatum. His efficiency will likely improve along with his ability to drive to the basket. The biggest factor holding him back from an all-star appearance is the fact that he is playing with so much talent.
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He will be a vital contributor to this Boston Celtics team and realistically could average around sixteen points per game next season.