Key Highlights:
- The individuals who suppose Tatum is getting “carried” are specializing in the incorrect components of the field rating.
- Tatum’s measurement and power are a giant motive why the Celtics’ defensive scheme in opposition to the Mavericks is working.
- Tatum could also be going by means of a capturing hunch, however he has proven some severe development as a decision-maker, which was a main weak spot of his for a very long time.
After my first viewing of the Boston Celtics’ convincing Sport 1 NBA Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks, I scrolled by means of my Twitter (I refuse to name it “X”), figuring I’d discover a smorgasbord of tweets salivating over the Celtics splendor. Nonetheless, I used to be as an alternative met by tweets like this:
Tatum being carried to a hoop pic.twitter.com/klScPAqLAt
— 🥤 (@34for2) June 7, 2024
At a look, Jayson Tatum’s stat line of 16 factors on 6-for-16 capturing from the ground in a blowout win leaves loads to be desired, notably when he’s speculated to be the staff’s head honcho. Nonetheless, anybody who has learn my work is aware of that I imagine field scores don’t paint the total image.
Was that the case right here? Or did Tatum actually get “carried?” I spent my second watch of Sport 1 making an attempt to reply this query. Let’s see what I discovered.
What The Field Rating Doesn’t Inform You
I hate to be that man, however conventional field scores don’t actually inform you of a lot (though, as we’ll see in a second, it does give some good hints). Yeah, they inform you what number of factors, rebounds, and assists a participant accumulates in a given recreation. However do they inform you how a lot Tatum’s defensive versatility unlocks Boston’s scheme?
One of many Mavericks’ most deadly factors of assault is their pick-and-roll recreation with Luka Doncic and the Lob Goblins (Daniel Gafford and Dereck Full of life II). Nonetheless, the Celtics have discovered a approach to neutralize this motion by placing Tatum on the middle and Jaylen Brown on Doncic. This permits the Celtics to change the ballscreen and kill the menace of the roll.
This technique is attainable largely as a result of Tatum is massive and robust sufficient to protect Gafford/Full of life and Doncic (when switched on to him). Normally, when a staff tries this sort of technique on the Mavericks, they counter it by having Gafford and Full of life eat on the offensive glass. However Tatum is such an excellent defensive rebounder (94th percentile in defensive rebounding amongst forwards, per Cleansing the Glass) that this activity isn’t really easy for the tandem.
This is evidenced by the truth that the offensive rebounding battle was dead-even (10 a chunk) between the Celtics and the Mavericks (paradoxically sufficient, yow will discover that on the field rating). Tatum completed the sport with 9 defensive rebounds and 11 complete rebounds (extra stuff yow will discover on the field rating).
Talking of measurement and rebounding, Tatum’s large body is inflicting issues for Dallas on the opposite finish of the court docket. Within the clip under, Tatum will get switched on the a lot smaller Kyrie Irving within the put up. Sadly, the ball by no means finds its approach to his palms. However that’s okay as a result of he leverages his measurement benefit into an offensive rebounding alternative and one other scoring alternative for his staff.
Pushing The Proper Buttons
Together with being the keystone to a defensive scheme that has shut the tap off on the Mavericks’ favourite play, Tatum was additionally tasked with being the staff’s lead ball handler.
Since Tatum and Brown got the mantle of the Celtics’ dynasty, the staff has been susceptible to collapses due to offensive stagnation attributable to an absence of elite on-ball creation. Historical past gave the impression to be repeating itself within the third quarter when the Mavericks reduce the lead down from 29 to eight. A few of this needed to do with scorching capturing from Doncic and chilly capturing from the Celtics, however a few of it was additionally as a result of Tatum and Brown fell again into some previous habits, like this:
Nonetheless, as an alternative of compounding his errors, Tatum gathered his composure. After a timeout with 4.5 minutes left within the third, Tatum returned wanting to showcase his development on the nationwide stage. As an alternative of driving into packed paints and forcing a troublesome shot or committing a turnover, Tatum was calculated – surveying the ground and taking what the protection was giving him.
Tatum’s capability to steer the ship within the face of adversity saved Boston’s offense on monitor and away from one other embarrassment. Regardless of having their lead reduce to eight, Boston took a 20 level lead heading into the ultimate body. Tatum ended the evening tied for the game-high in assists (5).
What About His Scoring?
Okay, so Tatum is rebounding, taking part in protection, and distributing. That’s nice however sounds extra like what you’d see from a job participant than a primary choice on a championship staff. That’s what Tatum’s critics are complaining about. They know Tatum is impactful. They simply suppose he’s not a nice primary choice. Proper?
Not essentially. Earlier this postseason, we mentioned how the small pattern sizes we see within the playoffs can produce bizarre/unsustainable capturing numbers. In that particular occasion, we have been referring to Paolo Banchero capturing above his traditional averages. Nonetheless, small pattern sizes may also trigger the alternative outcome.
This postseason, Tatum is averaging comparable factors per recreation (25.3) to his teammate Brown (24.8) on decrease effectivity (56% true capturing in comparison with Brown’s 61.2%). Many individuals take a look at these numbers as a demerit on Tatum’s skills as a scorer.
However these folks aren’t factoring in that Tatum is capturing an efficient area objective charge of simply 40.5% on his pull-ups this postseason (per NBA.com). This issues as a result of, in 4 of the final 5 common seasons, Tatum has shot an eFG% of 45.4% or increased (together with this season when he was at 47.5%), that means that these playoffs have been uncharacteristic of his regular capturing skills. Pull up capturing is a giant a part of Tatum’s scoring bag, so when he’s going by means of a chilly stretch on these kinds of pictures, it has an enormous impact on his scoring.
Tatum 2023-24 Pull Up Taking pictures Common Season vs. Playoffs*
| A part of Season | Pull Up Efficient Discipline Objective % | Pull Up Discipline Objective Makes an attempt |
| Common Season | 47.5% | 8.7 |
| Playoffs | 40.5% | 9.1 |
*Information Offered by NBA.com
The Backside Line
One different factor the field rating provides you (at the very least since 1996-97) is a participant’s plus-minus. In Sport 1, Tatum had the second-highest plus-minus (exterior of Jrue Vacation) of any participant who logged minutes with a +19. This is symbolic of all of the totally different ways in which Tatum can go away his imprint on a basketball recreation (rebounding, protection, decision-making, spacing, and many others.).
Sure, Tatum goes by means of a capturing hunch. However don’t overlook that in Sport 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant (Tatum’s idol) went 6-for-24 from the ground en path to his fifth NBA title. Nobody stated he acquired “carried” to the championship that 12 months. And in the event that they did, they have been incorrect for it.
Are you aware why? It’s as a result of the all-time greats (like Bryant) discover other ways to win, even when their shot is failing them. And in Sport 1 in opposition to the Mavericks, Tatum confirmed us that he’s able to be mentioned in these types of conversations.
