Jayson Tatum playing the four is nothing new. The Boston Celtics have gone with modern single-big lineups and asked him to be the second-tallest guy on the floor for years. He’s improved as a rim protector and a passer out of the post, especially in the past year.
But usually, when he went to the post, he was trying to lure over a double-team to pass out of it or back down a mouse in the house (a small guard). That’s not the case anymore, as Tatum has been a monster on the block in the preseason.
In the preseason opener, he seemed to abandon his usual game to hammer bodies on the block until he got to the free-throw line. It was a jarring development from someone whose teammates used to call him “bird chest” when he was younger because he was so thin. Tatum is built like a wrecking ball these days and now he’s playing like one.
He’s scored, assisted or drew a foul on seven of his eight post-ups in his two preseason games, per Synergy. The one miss? He took care of that.
This is the classic star turning into great power wings who have ascended to the top tier of the game. After a disastrous 2011 NBA Finals loss, LeBron James came back with a rejuvenated post-game the next season and beat the Celtics en route to his first championship. Kobe Bryant shifted his game to the post after the Celtics beat him in the 2008 NBA Finals to become one of the league’s best wing playmakers.
So it’s no wonder Tatum said assistant coach Sam Cassell has been helping him play with his back to the basket, as Cassell was one of the best post-up guards of his generation. More than ever, Tatum is trying to be assertive and act quickly while still having the comfort of seeing where the double-team is coming from. That was apparent early in Tuesday’s win over New York when he went straight into a backdown in transition.
Rather than post up and wait for the double to come, he looks more determined to move his defender, so teams have to start doubling earlier and harder. That’s when he can pass out more effectively and create open looks all the time.
But while last season was more about finding his balance and then spinning around his defender, it looks like he’s strong enough to just body whoever is in his way and finish right through them.
He’s aggressively swinging his elbow up through the defender’s chest when he’s backing them down, so the league might figure out how to sell that contact to get offensive fouls. But Tatum also is now a big enough star to get away with it. All that complaining over the years has at least helped him learn how to put up or shut up when it comes to getting calls.
The power finishes are nice, but it’s also key he’s learning the Kevin Durant swing-through to draw fouls when he’s out of position. In the past, Tatum would usually have a corner iso as he has here on Tobias Harris and drive baseline or cross over into a step-back 3.
But now he isn’t just going to the post up from the perimeter, but he’s backing Harris down to the paint. He’s going from low to high when he bumps Harris to try to dislodge the defender more easily and ensure he gets to his spot. While he probably could have kicked it out to Horford — who will likely flare out toward the sideline in the future to give Tatum a cleaner passing outlet — Tatum had a good plan for what to do once he got to his spot.
Instead of trying to turn to take a shot, he gets the ball low, steps around Harris and swings his arms up to ensure he catches the foul.
This is the kind of foul baiting reserved for the best of the best, a sign you’re playing to win rather than to score.
*Everyone feasts with the Holiday-Porziņģis connection*
Jrue Holiday is still trying to find a rhythm running the Celtics offense and still is getting lost every few possessions. But when he is in control, he is showing why he could be the best playmaker this team has had since Kyrie Irving.
His most important play of Tuesday’s win over the Knicks showed not only how effective a playmaker he can be, but the impact of Kristaps Porziņģis in the pick-and-pop.
The Knicks were playing Jericho Sims and Mitchell Robinson together to ensure they had a rim protector in the paint without giving Porziņģis uncontested 3s. That means Robinson, who is guarding Porziņģis’ screen, can step up and contain Holiday to shut the action down. But Holiday is so smooth at changing direction that he can get both Knicks defenders going the wrong direction and burst into the lane.
Holiday makes a perfect kick-out to Jaylen Brown, who then swings it over to Payton Pritchard for the wide-open 3. But what makes this combination so interesting is to see how teams are going to defend Porziņģis’ pick-and-pops and what that means for Holiday. Robinson is a great rim protector, but on this play didn’t know how to effectively help. Most teams won’t even have an imposing big like Sims waiting in the lane, making it easier for Holiday to get to a floater when he wants to.
But Holiday is showing that he has the physical tools and vision to drive hard and make a read to either kick it out to the open shooter or throw it back over his shoulder to Porziņģis, based on how the help is situated. Will teams have their centers help off Porziņģis more to cut off passes like this by Holiday? Will they have wings cover the screens and then switch if Porziņģis decides to roll?
Holiday is a deft enough floor general that he should be able to pass through whatever gaps the defense gives him. There are all sorts of little actions he is trying that make it look like he is operating on a different page than the rest of the team.
Considering these guys were scrimmaging for weeks before he arrived and it’s harder to insert a point guard into an offense than any other position, the rust should shed smoothly. Once that’s gone, head coach Joe Mazzulla should have a shiny, new offense to toy with.
AvailableAd9487
Tatum looks huge. Love some of those clips of him going straight to the post up to bully guys. If he can keep it up it will add such a nice dimension to his game, great way to get to the line too.
FlyingMocko
I really want Tatum to get an MVP but that trophy honestly feels like a curse for postseason explosion followed by endless digging by the media at this point.
So hopefully JT can snag a chip + FMVP this year and maybe gun for MVP next year.
SquimJim
> He’s scored, assisted or drew a foul on seven of his eight post-ups in his two preseason games, per Synergy.
4 Comments
Here y’all go:
Jayson Tatum playing the four is nothing new. The Boston Celtics have gone with modern single-big lineups and asked him to be the second-tallest guy on the floor for years. He’s improved as a rim protector and a passer out of the post, especially in the past year.
But usually, when he went to the post, he was trying to lure over a double-team to pass out of it or back down a mouse in the house (a small guard). That’s not the case anymore, as Tatum has been a monster on the block in the preseason.
In the preseason opener, he seemed to abandon his usual game to hammer bodies on the block until he got to the free-throw line. It was a jarring development from someone whose teammates used to call him “bird chest” when he was younger because he was so thin. Tatum is built like a wrecking ball these days and now he’s playing like one.
He’s scored, assisted or drew a foul on seven of his eight post-ups in his two preseason games, per Synergy. The one miss? He took care of that.
This is the classic star turning into great power wings who have ascended to the top tier of the game. After a disastrous 2011 NBA Finals loss, LeBron James came back with a rejuvenated post-game the next season and beat the Celtics en route to his first championship. Kobe Bryant shifted his game to the post after the Celtics beat him in the 2008 NBA Finals to become one of the league’s best wing playmakers.
So it’s no wonder Tatum said assistant coach Sam Cassell has been helping him play with his back to the basket, as Cassell was one of the best post-up guards of his generation. More than ever, Tatum is trying to be assertive and act quickly while still having the comfort of seeing where the double-team is coming from. That was apparent early in Tuesday’s win over New York when he went straight into a backdown in transition.
Rather than post up and wait for the double to come, he looks more determined to move his defender, so teams have to start doubling earlier and harder. That’s when he can pass out more effectively and create open looks all the time.
But while last season was more about finding his balance and then spinning around his defender, it looks like he’s strong enough to just body whoever is in his way and finish right through them.
He’s aggressively swinging his elbow up through the defender’s chest when he’s backing them down, so the league might figure out how to sell that contact to get offensive fouls. But Tatum also is now a big enough star to get away with it. All that complaining over the years has at least helped him learn how to put up or shut up when it comes to getting calls.
The power finishes are nice, but it’s also key he’s learning the Kevin Durant swing-through to draw fouls when he’s out of position. In the past, Tatum would usually have a corner iso as he has here on Tobias Harris and drive baseline or cross over into a step-back 3.
But now he isn’t just going to the post up from the perimeter, but he’s backing Harris down to the paint. He’s going from low to high when he bumps Harris to try to dislodge the defender more easily and ensure he gets to his spot. While he probably could have kicked it out to Horford — who will likely flare out toward the sideline in the future to give Tatum a cleaner passing outlet — Tatum had a good plan for what to do once he got to his spot.
Instead of trying to turn to take a shot, he gets the ball low, steps around Harris and swings his arms up to ensure he catches the foul.
This is the kind of foul baiting reserved for the best of the best, a sign you’re playing to win rather than to score.
*Everyone feasts with the Holiday-Porziņģis connection*
Jrue Holiday is still trying to find a rhythm running the Celtics offense and still is getting lost every few possessions. But when he is in control, he is showing why he could be the best playmaker this team has had since Kyrie Irving.
His most important play of Tuesday’s win over the Knicks showed not only how effective a playmaker he can be, but the impact of Kristaps Porziņģis in the pick-and-pop.
The Knicks were playing Jericho Sims and Mitchell Robinson together to ensure they had a rim protector in the paint without giving Porziņģis uncontested 3s. That means Robinson, who is guarding Porziņģis’ screen, can step up and contain Holiday to shut the action down. But Holiday is so smooth at changing direction that he can get both Knicks defenders going the wrong direction and burst into the lane.
Holiday makes a perfect kick-out to Jaylen Brown, who then swings it over to Payton Pritchard for the wide-open 3. But what makes this combination so interesting is to see how teams are going to defend Porziņģis’ pick-and-pops and what that means for Holiday. Robinson is a great rim protector, but on this play didn’t know how to effectively help. Most teams won’t even have an imposing big like Sims waiting in the lane, making it easier for Holiday to get to a floater when he wants to.
But Holiday is showing that he has the physical tools and vision to drive hard and make a read to either kick it out to the open shooter or throw it back over his shoulder to Porziņģis, based on how the help is situated. Will teams have their centers help off Porziņģis more to cut off passes like this by Holiday? Will they have wings cover the screens and then switch if Porziņģis decides to roll?
Holiday is a deft enough floor general that he should be able to pass through whatever gaps the defense gives him. There are all sorts of little actions he is trying that make it look like he is operating on a different page than the rest of the team.
Considering these guys were scrimmaging for weeks before he arrived and it’s harder to insert a point guard into an offense than any other position, the rust should shed smoothly. Once that’s gone, head coach Joe Mazzulla should have a shiny, new offense to toy with.
Tatum looks huge. Love some of those clips of him going straight to the post up to bully guys. If he can keep it up it will add such a nice dimension to his game, great way to get to the line too.
I really want Tatum to get an MVP but that trophy honestly feels like a curse for postseason explosion followed by endless digging by the media at this point.
So hopefully JT can snag a chip + FMVP this year and maybe gun for MVP next year.
> He’s scored, assisted or drew a foul on seven of his eight post-ups in his two preseason games, per Synergy.
Wowza bub!!!