Post#108 » by greenroom31 » Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:41 pm
Tatum is going to be one of the best players in the league and he's already on the way there.
Offensively, his step back 3 can't be defended. He's too tall and has too high of a release for pretty much anyone to bother it. That shooting sets up his drives to the basket, and he has improved mightily at getting to the rim and finishing this year. On top of that, he can stop on a dime if he sees trouble at the rim and hit a fadeaway jumper, again with the high release. When he's feeling it he is unstoppable and we're seeing him get hot and singlehandedly go on runs in quarters that demolish other teams and break their spirits.
Defensively Tatum has the length, strength and quick feet to be a problem for almost any opponent, irrespective of size or position. Really big 5s like Embiid will always be a problem for him, as will incredibly quick 1s, but just about everyone else he can defend.
On top of that he's a good rebounder with broad shoulders and his passing is improving. He's a good teammate and stays very calm. He has shown the ability to hit game winners and perform in the clutch. Not really sure what else you would want to see from him at this stage, but if I'm being super nit-picky, things he is still lacking include:
1) Better court vision and playmaking (he's showing improvement but still not super high level here)
2) More consistency on the offensive end (even though the last month he's been on fire)
3) Freak athleticism (he's a good athlete but not on the level of some other guys)
Given that he's still only 21, more time and experience will improve both #1 and #2, and while he'll never be a Giannis level athlete, he's good enough that it shouldn't hold him back.