Boston Celtics: 5 moves to improve each position in the starting lineup
By Mark Nilon
Best way Boston Celtics can improve at small forward: Slide Tatum to the three
Like Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum has spent the majority of his time recently playing out of position.
Brown, a prototypical two, found himself logging ample minutes in the starting unit at the three while Tatum, for the past two years, often found himself playing as the team’s starting power forward.
Like his wing counterpart, the 23-year-old has also seen tremendous production when technically playing out of position, as he’s posted averages of 24.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and just shy of a block per game on 45 percent shooting from the floor and 39 percent shooting from deep over the last two years while nabbing two All-Star selections and an All-NBA nod along the way.
However, despite finding tremendous success down at the four, as we already alluded to, small forward is his more natural position and, if it wasn’t already clear, heading into this season Jayson Tatum would undoubtedly be the best fit for this team at the three.
A legitimate MVP hopeful who, along with Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, is revered as the best young building block in the association, having the budding superstar back at the spot in the rotation that he appears most comfortable in can only be viewed as an improvement for the team at the three.