Tatum and Brown, as 1-2 Options

[celticgreenie]

They were a good enough 1-2 last year, so yes. Problem is that they ran into a team whose 1-2-3 has been to finals 6 times in last 8 years and whose #5 was Wiggins - a max salary player, an all star and a former #1 pick.

Agree with most of this, except would add if Celtics didn't have to deal with so many injuries during the finals and had a better defensive game plan, Celts would have won it. Gave the Warriors shooters the same consistent look in terms of coverage, and should have mixed it up by guarding them tighter at times. Similar to how a good NFL defense mixes up the looks.

[31to6]

What a fun thread.

if only we had a thread about Jaylen and Jayson somewhere

[JaMarco]

Why dont you guys make these threads when they are on big winning streaks?

[celticgreenie]

What a fun thread.

if only we had a thread about Jaylen and Jayson somewhere

We don't have a thread of Jaylen AND Jayson together.

We do have a Jaylen OR Jayson threads.

[Feed Your Head]

What a fun thread.

if only we had a thread about Jaylen and Jayson somewhere

We don't have a thread of Jaylen AND Jayson together.

We do have a Jaylen OR Jayson threads.

It’s literally on the first page lol.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1846554

[celticgreenie]

if only we had a thread about Jaylen and Jayson somewhere

We don't have a thread of Jaylen AND Jayson together.

We do have a Jaylen OR Jayson threads.

It’s literally on the first page lol.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1846554

My bad.

[Feed Your Head]

We don't have a thread of Jaylen AND Jayson together.

We do have a Jaylen OR Jayson threads.

It’s literally on the first page lol.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1846554

My bad.

[celticgreenie]

It’s literally on the first page lol.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1846554

My bad.

Ha. I can appreciate the exaggeration. On a serious note, thanks though for your useful posts with the analytical numbers you find.

[celticgreenie]

Would love to see Tatum work on his post game and add a little nuance to it, similar to how Jaylen is crafty nowadays getting to the basket. That way if playoff teams play maybe too physical with Tatum when he drives the ball which might cause a turnover or missed shot, I don't seeing those being a problem if he can post up and just can a 15 footer, which should be no problem for him and his skill set. Plus, I don't see refs giving as much leeway to fouls in the post like drives to the basket. Post up jumper I hope would be somewhat respected close to regular jumper whereby the offensive player has the advantage completely and any tap on the elbow or wrist is called a foul and landing space must be respected.

[Above The Rim]

Going to answer a question with a question: who is a better duo currently? Currently is what matters. They’re not playing Kobe and Shaq this year or next.

Giannis and Middleton pretty good champ combo. Giannis rampaging the basket for 3.5 quarters, and Middleton to finish things up.

Can’t disagree with Giannis but I think Jaylen is firmly a better player at this point than Middleton (Middleton still scares me btw). Maybe enough to make up the difference between Giannis and Tatum. I think it’s at least close, which tells me they are good enough to be 1-2 pairing on a banner squad.

[shackles10]

Plus, I don't see refs giving as much leeway to fouls in the post like drives to the basket.

Interesting point. Eye test seems like the league leaders in free throws get a ton of calls posting up when the contact is minimal compared to what’s often allowed when attacking the basket. Makes it frustrating when we don’t have one of those guys. Giannis being a definite exception as he’s more drives the post ups and lives at the line.

[Fencer reregistered]

Also, great wing players tend to be all-World on defense early in their careers, before hitting their offensive peaks. These guys are good, but they don't look like lockdown defenders.

Exception: Paul Pierce, who locked people down only in crunch time, and probably peaked in that around the same time he peaked offensively.

This didn't hold up in the case of Tatum.

[Parliament10]

Read on Twitter

[hugepatsfan]

The question with these 2 as top options is always whether you got enough playmaking from them as your go-to duo. Tatum has made huge strides there. Brown has as well, though still not great there. That's gone a long way to making them as viable a top duo as they are.

But beyond that, Smart has taken unbelievably well to the starting PG spot. That's reduced a degree of the playmaking burden on them. White was a big-time "connector" type of facilitating addition. Brogdon was another guy who slots behind our stars, but alleviates some playmaking burden. In the front court, Grant/Horford/Rob are all great passers, further reducing burden. A good offensive system that creates spacing helps as well.

I don't think we should have ever questioned whether Tatum/Brown could co-exist. The question should always have been if you got enough playmaking to be a great team from them as your #1 and #2, and if not, whether you had the means of acquiring that playmaking at the top of your roster without trading one of them. But it's moot now because of the combination of them making improvements in their game and Brad catering the depth of the roster to help compensate for their "weakness" as playmakers.

[sam_I_am]

You know who never doubted the Jays could co-exist? Brad. As soon as he became GM he announced that building around the Jays and maximizing their collective talents was going to be his main focus. Despite all the fake noise this summer, he has methodically surrounded them with veterans like Horford, White, and Brogdon ready to support them now at the expense of past and future high potential first round picks that need development.

So how has that gone? Dominant run to end first season and disappointing - yes disappointing - finals loss to Warriors, a team that has played in 6 of last 8 finals. Dominant start to second season and NBA best record. Pretty impressive.

[zoyathedestroya]

Read on Twitter

[Homerclease]

Celtics really messed up not giving Tatums minutes to Carsen Edwards. LOLLLLLLL

[Feed Your Head]

Celtics really messed up not giving Tatums minutes to Carsen Edwards. LOLLLLLLL

People think the Jaylen takes have been bad (they have), some of the Tatum ones are somewhere past that.

[celticgreenie]

Saw Tatum post up a couple times during last night's game. He drew a foul on one and scored on the other one, which I always thought would be a better option than some of his drives to the rim when he can't seem to get the call a la Giannis.