RealGM

Tatum was named player of the week in the east. His numbers were 30/7/4 50%FG 54% 3PT with amazing defense. With Tatums defense taken into account also his offensive output and versatility blossoming and a true 6’8” wing; What numbers would Tatum need to put up on a playoff team to be considered a top ten player? Boston being a top 2-3 team in the east with impact of winning not inflated stats on a losing team.

What do you need Tatum to do to be in the top 10?

If he ends the season the ways he's played in 2020 there should be no doubt.

BodieB wrote:If he ends the season the ways he's played in 2020 there should be no doubt.

Tatum = slightly better version of Rudy Gay

Same defense

25+ ppg 8+ rpg 8+ aspg 45+ fg 38+ 3point 89+ FT

He would need to get his PER above 20 for starters (PER above 24 is top 10 territory).

Let’s see if he can keep up his production against better teams too.

ccie8030 wrote:

BodieB wrote:If he ends the season the ways he's played in 2020 there should be no doubt.

Tatum = slightly better version of Rudy Gay

Rich man’s Rudy Gay. Spot on.

He needs to up his efficiency, for one thing. While his splits(44/39/83) aren’t bad, he currently sits at 55%TS, -1% rTS. His defense is very good, but what’s to separate him from Jimmy Butler or PG, two guys who are typically at the back end of the top 10?

In terms of rough numbers 25/8/4 on good efficiency gets him into the convo. More so if he is leading the Celtics to a top 3 record in the conference and playing good defense.

I see him as having a Mookie Blaylock type career

HoopsterJones wrote:He would need to get his PER above 20 for starters (PER above 24 is top 10 territory).

Let’s see if he can keep up his production against better teams too.

Enes Kanter has a PER of 23.8 so thanks for confirming Kanter is a top 10 player.

He can't be top10 yet, he needs to improve a lot his playmaking and passing.

HoopsterJones wrote:

ccie8030 wrote:

BodieB wrote:If he ends the season the ways he's played in 2020 there should be no doubt.

Tatum = slightly better version of Rudy Gay

Rich man’s Rudy Gay. Spot on.

He's being sarcastic, people use to say he would only be a little bit better version of Gay.

He's infinitely better than prime Gay already, and he's not 22 for a month.

celticfan42487 wrote:Same defense

25+ ppg 8+ rpg 8+ aspg 45+ fg 38+ 3point 89+ FT

25-8-8 to be a top 10 player?

LeBron and Luka are the only players in the league averaging such...

The Comedian wrote:

HoopsterJones wrote:

ccie8030 wrote:
Tatum = slightly better version of Rudy Gay

Rich man’s Rudy Gay. Spot on.

He's being sarcastic, people use to say he would only be a little bit better version of Gay.

He's infinitely better than prime Gay already, and he's not 22 for a month.

I’m being sarcastic too.

HoopsterJones wrote:

The Comedian wrote:

HoopsterJones wrote:
Rich man’s Rudy Gay. Spot on.

He's being sarcastic, people use to say he would only be a little bit better version of Gay.

He's infinitely better than prime Gay already, and he's not 22 for a month.

I’m being sarcastic too.

And I'm an idiot who can't read sarcasm. Carry on.

BillTheGOAT wrote:

HoopsterJones wrote:He would need to get his PER above 20 for starters (PER above 24 is top 10 territory).

Let’s see if he can keep up his production against better teams too.

Enes Kanter has a PER of 23.8 so thanks for confirming Kanter is a top 10 player.

25 PER is top 10, look it up. Kanter doesn’t qualify also because of only averaging 18.9 MPG.

Tatum is sitting at 19.5 PER. That’s not top 10.

Im a huge Tatum fan (said I think he's going to be a better offensive PG in the other Tatum thread), but I also do think we have to factor in his surrounding situation when comparing him to other young guys. I mean his surrounding pieces are Kemba, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward, while also having one of the best coaches in the league and solid rotation pieces as well like Theis and Kanter.

Lots of other young guys dont have that around them. Switch Booker with Tatum what happens? Ya Booker isn't the defender Tatum is, but what level of offense could we maybe see from him if he got to play alongside Kemba/Brown/Hayward.

Not trying to make this a Tatum vs Booker thread or anything like that. Just some extra context I think that needs to be taken into consideration when thinking about boosting him way above other young wings stuck in horrible franchises.

With all that said, hard not to get excited about a 21 year old that is an elite defender who is dropping 20+ points. I did just a really quick look on this the other day (so I could be wrong on this). But if Tatum gets on one of the All defense teams this year (I think he deserves it), he would be the first 21 year old perimeter player to be on an all defense team and a 20+ ppg scorer since Kobe. That is pretty damn special.

My actual answer is 24-26/7/4 with his defense, and his TS has to get into the high 50s.

I think he will be there by this time next year. The rise in efficiency as the season has gone on has me optimistic.

I don't think he will ever be top 3 or even 5, but could see him in that 7-11 range for sure.

The Comedian wrote:

HoopsterJones wrote:

The Comedian wrote:
He's being sarcastic, people use to say he would only be a little bit better version of Gay.

He's infinitely better than prime Gay already, and he's not 22 for a month.

I’m being sarcastic too.

And I'm an idiot who can't read sarcasm. Carry on.

I should have used green font for more transparency.

He need to keep doing what he's doing while getting to the line a little more, learn to facilitate better and tighten his handle which will make the first two things easier.