[Weiss] Jayson Tatum was asked if he has finally reached an elite level of consistency as a star. “I think so. First team All-NBA two years in a row, so that’s kinda consistent.”
Jayson Tatum was asked if he has finally reached an elite level of consistency as a star.
"I think so. First team All-NBA two years in a row, so that’s kinda consistent."
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) January 7, 2024
by Kimber80
13 Comments
Feel like he’s been a bit less consistent than last year individually
He’s a weird one.
I got downvoted at the start of the season for saying he’s not a superstar.
But of the players that aren’t superstars I’d have him the highest ranked.
Just don’t feel he has that extra gear that Jokic, Embiid, Luka and Giannis have
Most overrated player maybe ever.
Why is this sub so down on Tatum? The guy can score from absolutely anywhere on the floor, he’s unselfish, good rebounder, great defender, has done nothing but win a lot of games in the regular season and playoffs his whole career and he’s only just turning 26 this year.
Hes an absolutely incredible player and I think when it’s all said and done he has the talent to go down as the 4th /5th best ever at his position
Someone want to explain the hate that Tatum receives? Like I straight up don’t get it. This dude is not a dirty player, is a good dad, doesn’t have drama and just plays ball. If you want to criticize not getting a ring at the AGE OF 25 yet, that’s a weird take but ok I guess but there’s older and younger nba players as first/second/third/benched/retired who have never won a ring and can’t anymore.
Three in a row is a trend!
To the comments stating that people are down on Tatum, and to the comments that ARE down on Tatum, saying he’s overrated. He’s inconsistent. He falls short in big moments.
Here’s the deal. He isn’t a top 5 player. While he does show flashes and stretches of top 5/ MVP caliber play, his baseline is just a bit lower. But he absolutely is the best of the rest and good enough to be the best on a title team.
He’s 25 years old. He’s made multiple all star teams, multiple all NBA teams, multiple conference finals, and a finals.
Tatum has played more minutes and more games than anyone else in the NBA since 2017. He’s played more playoff games than anyone else in the NBA since 2017. He’s been the best player on multiple iterations of conference finals teams.
But he shrinks in big moments? Well, since 2017, Tatum is the most effecient scorer in volume tie or go ahead buckets since 2017. The data disagrees with you. He shrunk in the finals, and was terrible. Yeah. So, he shrinks in big moments? He averages 28/7/5 in elimination games, which is better than his career average and his playoff average. This includes consecutive seasons of 1. Dropping 46 in Milwaukee in an elimination game to push the series to 7 in 2022. Dropping 16 in the 4th quarter in Philly in game 6 of an elimination game on Embiid’s head in an elimination game to push the series to 7. Then dropped the most points ever in a game 7, 50+ to ice the series.
TLDR: The fact of the matter is that at age 25, Tatum has had one hell of a career so far. As of today, he’s a top 6 player in the NBA. He’s a two way all nba star, an iron man, a playoff iron man who plays better in elimination games than in non elimination games. He’s statically the most effecienct go ahead clutch time bucket getter in the NBA. He’s a playoff performer with loads of playoff experience, and has amassed the most playoff experience out of anyone since 2017, and at age 25, have lead multiple cores/rosters to conference finals.
Yes. He’s not a top 5 MVP tier player yet. Yes, his first finals series was bad. But he IS a top 6 guy, and people want two use him not being top 5, and his finals performance to discredit him, go ahead.
But I’ll tell you what’s really happening – and this applies to every single detractor here. Boston sports fans have a star player who is on the verge of giving spoiled Boston sports fans another championship/championship MVP star player.
And they hate it.
That’s all. That’s why.
The reason people hate on Tatum is because he idolizes a LAKER while playing for the CELTICS, and he looks like he constantly has a poem in his head but is too shy to tell it to you.
If Tatum didn’t get hurt in the playoffs, it probably be a different narrative. He was taking over before he got hurt.
He might not put up MVP stats in today’s NBA (30ppg triple doubles), but I feel like Tatum is still one of the most complete players in the league.
Most people who hate Tatum just hate the Celtics and then spew some ESPN narrative about why he isn’t good (always a combo of can’t be the #1 guy/100 turnovers in a playoff/ doesn’t show up in clutch games)
Then when Tatum delivers he’s a either a shot chucker or free throw merchant (sure to shot chucker but he def don’t get the whistle like any of the other stars, minus jokic)
Literally half of yall said we needed Marcus smart to take clutch shots (no idea what yall are smoking)
Enjoy watching Celtics dominate your favorite team 🤌🏻
Why does Tatum get disrespected?
It’s rings man. Lebron and Steph both got their firsts at 26 and for Steph he did it with a 24 year old Klay and Dray. Compare that to the Celtics core and now age is no longer an excuse for not being in the finals and winning it all. The only ringless superstar player that doesn’t get that much disrespect is Jimmy Butler and even he is going to still catch heat for not getting the job done. Tatum’s just not being coddled anymore that’s what changed. As the greats once said “It don’t mean a thing without the motherfucking ring”.
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If you as a Boston fan think it’s unfair just look at Embiid. Look at what they say and said about Russ and Harden. Look at how people even started to talk about Kawhi. Hell look at what they say about Bron and Steph. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done it’s what have you done recently? And even two years ago isn’t recent enough for us.
Gotta stop pretending player hate has to be rational or based on some moral character thing. Na, just don’t like his game. He’s good, great even. whatever.