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Boston Celtics: 5 reasons Jayson Tatum was a good pick

By Tevin Williams

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jayson Tatum (Duke) is interviewed after being selected as the number three overall pick to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jayson Tatum (Duke) is interviewed after being selected as the number three overall pick to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives up to the net over North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) during the first half during the ACC Conference Tournament at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives up to the net over North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) during the first half during the ACC Conference Tournament at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Professional scorer

What Tatum will be known for in the NBA is his ability to score the basketball. He can catch-and-shoot, pick-and-pop, dribble pull-up and everything in between. Tatum has a great midrange game, a skill that will make him stand out in an era of threes, layups and advanced analytics.

His post game reminds me of Carmelo Anthony‘s. He’s got the jab-step, step back and one-dribble pull-up moves in his arsenal. He can even go to the one-legged Dirk Nowitzki fadeaway against shorter defenders. When posting up against a defender that is bigger than him, he can beat them with his spin move. Despite not having an extremely explosive first step, Tatum can still blow by defenders because his long strides allow him to take one dribble for a layup from the perimeter.

Tatum’s three-point shot could definitely use some work. He shot a solid 34.2 percent from the three-point line at Duke. At only 19 years old, he has plenty of time to improve his stroke in the NBA.

We’ve seen a lot of players come into the NBA with a poor outside shot, but manage to become proficient marksmen later on in their career. The good news is that, Tatum has a good shooting form. It’s always easier to build on top of a solid foundation.

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