Game Thread: Pistons (6-19) @ Celtics (13-11) – 8:00PM, Fri. 02-12-21

[Ill News]

Celtics going to crush the Wizards and everyone on here will be saying they are 1 piece away from a title. Haha. Relax. The team isn’t healthy and they have no flow. Yes DA needs to make changes and add a player or two. Yes Brad needs to figure out a rotation. But let’s not act like Kemba/Smart aren’t coming back.

Even with Smart and Kemba coming back, I'm just not confident in this team making any sort of noise in the playoffs. The supporting cast to those four is just too unreliable and inconsistent. Theis is good and has a lot of skills to offer, but he has no chance in hell of guarding an Embiid or Giannis. Thompson is one-dimensional. Teague plays like a stoned college kid. Pritchard is a rookie, and for all we know he might hit a rookie wall as the season goes on. Semi, Grant, Time Lord, and Javonte are way too inconsistent in both production and effort. Hell, even Kemba has been wildly inconsistent.

I just think we'll be saying the same old things once this team is healthy. There's just something missing and off with this team, and I don't know what trade Ainge can do to improve it.

[Triple7]

Nah! I have seen enough to say that he avoids contact. Small bumps and his shot alters. He does a lot of side steps and using screens inside, instead of going strong. You rely too much on stats!

This is weird. I've never seen someone describe using side-steps and the ability to use screens as a detriment in someone's game. And then completely ignore facts.

Tatum leads the team in drives per game, and yes he absolutely goes up soft at times, but the last couple of weeks he has clearly started being more aggressive seeking out contact. To say he has lost his scoring skill besides outside shooting is just a silly post.

Ok i might have gone over board there, saying Tatum lost his ability to finish, but it’s been frustrating to watch him at times. The guy is tall and athletic. He could literally jump and dunk on everyone, if he chooses to. He has missed a lot of possibel and1’s because he goes up soft. Those euro steps and side stepping to the basket are finesse moves. amd a lot of times he was fishing for a foul and flipping the ball up, instead of trying to finish and score. Tatum is still my fave player, so i want him to het better.

[Feed Your Head]

This is weird. I've never seen someone describe using side-steps and the ability to use screens as a detriment in someone's game. And then completely ignore facts.

Tatum leads the team in drives per game, and yes he absolutely goes up soft at times, but the last couple of weeks he has clearly started being more aggressive seeking out contact. To say he has lost his scoring skill besides outside shooting is just a silly post.

Ok i might have gone over board there, saying Tatum lost his ability to finish, but it’s been frustrating to watch him at times. The guy is tall and athletic. He could literally jump and dunk on everyone, if he chooses to. He has missed a lot of possibel and1’s because he goes up soft. Those euro steps and side stepping to the basket are finesse moves. amd a lot of times he was fishing for a foul and flipping the ball up, instead of trying to finish and score. Tatum is still my fave player, so i want him to het better.

So one thing that I think gets lost at times is just how young Tatum is, which is ironic considering all the Tatum is only 19 jokes. These are things that get better with time. Like I’ve said before, Jaylen is super young, and Tatum is a year and a half younger than him lol.

I’m with you in that he absolutely has to seek out more contact, I just think he has started doing exactly that recently.

[Triple7]

If that were the case, he wouldn’t have 27 free throws the last 3 games. It’s not looking at the stats, it is what it is. Unless you’re Trae young, you don’t get to the line that much without being aggressive looking for contact.

More likely, it’s your perception.

Nah! I have seen enough to say that he avoids contact. Small bumps and his shot alters. He does a lot of side steps and using screens inside, instead of going strong. You rely too much on stats!

This is weird. I've never seen someone describe using side-steps and the ability to use screens as a detriment in someone's game. And then completely ignore facts.

Side stepping and euro stepping are finesse moves. You can go watch the replays, and see for yourself how Jayson tries to avoid contact. I have watched replays a lot. That’s why im frustrated seeing that, when i know he could jump and dunk that ball against anyone if he wants to.

[Triple7]

Tatum leads the team in drives per game, and yes he absolutely goes up soft at times, but the last couple of weeks he has clearly started being more aggressive seeking out contact. To say he has lost his scoring skill besides outside shooting is just a silly post.

Ok i might have gone over board there, saying Tatum lost his ability to finish, but it’s been frustrating to watch him at times. The guy is tall and athletic. He could literally jump and dunk on everyone, if he chooses to. He has missed a lot of possibel and1’s because he goes up soft. Those euro steps and side stepping to the basket are finesse moves. amd a lot of times he was fishing for a foul and flipping the ball up, instead of trying to finish and score. Tatum is still my fave player, so i want him to het better.

So one thing that I think gets lost at times is just how young Tatum is. These are things that get better with time, like I’ve said before, Jaylen is super young, and Tatum is a year and a half younger than him.

I’m with you in that he absolutely has to seek out more contact, I just think he has started doing exactly that recently.

I agree. He at least looks to attack and go to the line, as against games early, where he had zero free throws. Wished he studies film on KD, on how simple for him to score, as opposed to studying Kobe, and forces a lot of hard, low percentage shots.

[bucknersrevenge]

Nah! I have seen enough to say that he avoids contact. Small bumps and his shot alters. He does a lot of side steps and using screens inside, instead of going strong. You rely too much on stats!

This is weird. I've never seen someone describe using side-steps and the ability to use screens as a detriment in someone's game. And then completely ignore facts.

Side stepping and euro stepping are finesse moves. You can go watch the replays, and see for yourself how Jayson tries to avoid contact. I have watched replays a lot. That’s why im frustrated seeing that, when i know he could jump and dunk that ball against anyone if he wants to.

You say "finesse". I say "evidence of skill". I think I get what you're trying to get it but what I've seen from him lately directly refutes what you've said. He drives a ton into contact. Hadn't been getting a lot of calls except for lately.

[Triple7]

This is weird. I've never seen someone describe using side-steps and the ability to use screens as a detriment in someone's game. And then completely ignore facts.

Side stepping and euro stepping are finesse moves. You can go watch the replays, and see for yourself how Jayson tries to avoid contact. I have watched replays a lot. That’s why im frustrated seeing that, when i know he could jump and dunk that ball against anyone if he wants to.

You say "finesse". I say "evidence of skill". I think I get what you're trying to get it but what I've seen from him lately directly refutes what you've said. He drives a ton into contact. Hadn't been getting a lot of calls except for lately.

When he drives, he uses his head and shoulders to initiate contact, as opposed to going up straight strong, like what Brown is doing. Big difference. Just go review the games and you’ll see.