Game Thread: Timberwolves (13-39) @ Celtics (26-26) – 7:30PM, Fri. 04-09-21

[Edug27]

You sound like a Jets fan reminiscence about the their "run" where lost in back to back AFC championship games.

Name the last few guys 23 years old or younger to lead his team to a title.

Don't know and don't care. You don't need to know Tatum's age to see that his character and demeanor is not that of a true competitor and winner. He does not have the killer instinct.

[Feed Your Head]

Jaylen has bostoncouchgm and BK.

Tatum has jumblin and feedreed.

[Hal14]

If people like you would concede that Tatum is much closer to Westbrook and Harden than he is too Kobe and LeBron, id rest my case. A great talent who does not have the winning intangibles.

I never once said that Tatum is on the same level as Kobe or LeBron. Regardless Harden is a hell of a player and if Tatum is mentioned in the same sentence it's him I'd be thrilled.

There's a reason why teams that are winning championships have several elite players on them.

And theres a reason teams who build around selfish stars who don't play team basketball never win. Something Harden and Tatum also have in common.

lol yeah Harden who has been a top 3 candidate for MVP for like 5 years now. If tatum gets to be that good, we're in good shape!

Oh wait, a star who was selfish so couldn't win anything his first few years...you mean Michael Jordan? I think he turned out ok. It turns out, it's not wise to judge a player too early in their career. Especially earlier than age 27.

[jumblin]

Jaylen has bostoncouchgm and BK.

Tatum has jumblin and feedreed.

And Kendrick Perkins.

[aussie_pride]

I actually tried to but your group of overzealous mods locked it.

I think they only like nice Happy Thoughts on the forum. Must be how people around here became convinced Daniel Theis is one of the best centers in the NBA.

If Tatum is so **** amazing, why do the 2020-2021 Boston Celtics suck so much? This is clearly Tatum's team and they suck. Why you try to defend him is beyond me.

This feels like 2003 with me arguing with curmudgeon about Pierce over and over.

I'm sure Bulls fans had choice words for Jordan his first six years until they figured out no matter how good your top player is, the TEAM don't win until all the right pieces are in place.

This team is lacking in pieces, but Tatum isn't the problem here. He's got flaws to work on, for sure, but he's an asset, a huge one.

Honestly, Bulls fans and basketball fans knew exactly how great Jordan was within a month or so into his rookie year. He was hyped pretty much immediately even before Air Jordan's came out if I remember correctly. Anyways, when Air Jordan's first came out, they sold like hotcakes. He did face some criticism for trying to do too much at times but it was muted most years. His great playoff series against Boston in 85-86 even though Chicago was swept made it clear, he was an extraordinary player on both ends of the court. Even as a rookie, he was considered an instant NBA superstar and not just an ordinary star but a consensus superstar.

Tatum right now is a top 10-15 player. I don't expect him to get much better since unlike a first or 2nd year Lebron, it isn't like he has an area of his game that is relatively easy to improve upon. Lebron was a pretty mediocre shooter that lacked confidence in his perimeter shot so when he improved moderately in that area, easy for him to jump another level.

Really with Tatum, the key will be getting him in the #2 role as the 2nd best player on the team. Even if he is the best scorer, Celtics to win it all, in all likelihood need someone better than Tatum as an all around basketball player.

Fans need to remember that Tatum was drafted #3 and it was well known that he was a pretty polished player already. I really would have been shocked if he wasn't a very good shooter.

It is really Jaylen Brown that was the more raw prospect.

The problem with Jordan was that he did not have a clue on how to play with his team mates. It did not help that Doug Collins implemented an offense that was based around him and which was ultimately design to have him finishing every move. It was not until Phil Jackson took over that Jordan began playing team-orientated basketball. On the contrary, Lebron from day one in the league both trusted and figured out how to play with his team mates. I really wouldn't like Tatum to either of those superstars though; he is more like a Kobe Bryant.

I do agree though that Tatum is a massive asset. If Tatum is going to improve it will be in his passing and playmaking. I do think that it is possible for him to do this but I think he needs the help of a coach who can help him in this area. I've said it on here before that the guy should be a triple double threat every night. We've seen glimpses of it before; if you look at what he did in his first couple of seasons, he was a much more well-rounded player in that he moved the ball and looked to integrate his team mates. These last two seasons he has adopted more of a scoring role, which I believe is due to the influence of Kobe Bryant.

[Feed Your Head]

Jaylen has bostoncouchgm and BK.

Tatum has jumblin and feedreed.

And Kendrick Perkins.

That hurts your case more than it helps.

[MagicBagley18]

Jaylen has bostoncouchgm and BK.

Tatum has jumblin and feedreed.

And Kendrick Perkins.

Perkins horrific takes make yours look credible and yours suck

[jumblin]

Jaylen has bostoncouchgm and BK.

Tatum has jumblin and feedreed.

And Kendrick Perkins.

Perkins horrific takes make yours look credible and yours suck

2 NBA champs in Perk and Wade both calling out the Celtics (and the Celtics are Tatum's team).

But magicbagley knows better.

[LarryBirdsFingr]

Huh. There's a game tonight.

[MagicBagley18]

And Kendrick Perkins.

Perkins horrific takes make yours look credible and yours suck

2 NBA champs in Perk and Wade both calling out the Celtics (and the Celtics are Tatum's team).

But magicbagley knows better.

Some jackass on the internet named jumblin can project a 23 year olds entire career lol and yes I do know better

[jumblin]

Perkins horrific takes make yours look credible and yours suck

2 NBA champs in Perk and Wade both calling out the Celtics (and the Celtics are Tatum's team).

But magicbagley knows better.

Some jackass on the internet named jumblin can project a 23 year olds entire career lol and yes I do know better

Kind of like another jackass on the internet named bagley doing the exact same thing.

[MagicBagley18]

2 NBA champs in Perk and Wade both calling out the Celtics (and the Celtics are Tatum's team).

But magicbagley knows better.

Some jackass on the internet named jumblin can project a 23 year olds entire career lol and yes I do know better

Kind of like another jackass on the internet named bagley doing the exact same thing.

Idk if he will lead us to a title, I don’t know what his demeanor will be like years down the road but I do know using Kendrick Perkins as a reference to make my point isn’t the hill I’d die on personally but again I’d expect nothing less from you

[jumblin]

Some jackass on the internet named jumblin can project a 23 year olds entire career lol and yes I do know better

Kind of like another jackass on the internet named bagley doing the exact same thing.

Idk if he will lead us to a title, I don’t know what his demeanor will be like years down the road but I do know using Kendrick Perkins as a reference to make my point isn’t the hill I’d die on personally but again I’d expect nothing less from you

I'd literally bet any amount of money IRL that Jason Tatum will never win a title on any team where he is the best player. PM if you're interested.

[Hal14]

Kind of like another jackass on the internet named bagley doing the exact same thing.

Idk if he will lead us to a title, I don’t know what his demeanor will be like years down the road but I do know using Kendrick Perkins as a reference to make my point isn’t the hill I’d die on personally but again I’d expect nothing less from you

I'd literally bet any amount of money IRL that Jason Tatum will never win a title on any team where he is the best player. PM if you're interested.

I bet a million people would have made that same bet on Dirk when he was only 23. ,.....and Curry when he was 23...Kawhi when he was 23....Oh and Jordan wasn't a winner at 23 either...and neither was Wade, not until he was 24, same with Bird, he didn't get to finals till age 24..

Gosh, you're not very smart when it comes to sports are you? just a troll, huh? you do know that Tatum dropped 53 tonight right?

[Curmudgeon]

The new NBA. Defense? Nah.

[Shak_Celts]

we won

[exculpatory]

This feels like 2003 with me arguing with Curmudgeon about Pierce over & over.

[Curmudgeon]

This feels like 2003 with me arguing with Curmudgeon about Pierce over & over.

KG got in his face and demanded defensive effort, that's all. And would I have traded Pierce for the draft pick that became Chris Paul (as Ainge tried to do)? You bet I would.

[tlee324]

This feels like 2003 with me arguing with Curmudgeon about Pierce over & over.

KG got in his face and demanded defensive effort, that's all. And would I have traded Pierce for the draft pick that became Chris Paul (as Ainge tried to do)? You bet I would.

Eh. Chris Paul's another fine player without a ring. People were giving KG crap when he was trying to carry Minnesota too. You need the pieces in the right place to have that championship level of play.

[soxfan2003]

Something Scal pointed out earlier, but Tatum has become and elite finisher as the season has gone on. 72% at the rim on the season, and something like 82% over the last month.

He just needs to do it much more, he’s so big and strong, can just finish through guys.

Tatum is actually attacking the rim as a percentage of his shots less than any of his previous 3 seasons. Nearly 25% of his shots last year within 3 ft of the basket and this year, it is just 18.5%.

26.1% 67.8% 2018-19
24.8% 61,8% 2019-2020
18.5% 72.5% 2020-21

So many variable changing, it is tough to say how much Tatum has improved in that area vs statistical noise. NBA defenses worse this year and Tatum may be more selective driving while still taking advantage of fast break opportunities and open lanes to the basket via cuts.