Hoops Habit
Fansided

Boston Celtics: 5 goals for Jayson Tatum’s rookie season

By Tevin Williams

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Jayson Tatum (Duke) is introduced 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 introduced 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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) drives against Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) drives against Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Improve defense

Jayson Tatum will need to improve his defense in the NBA, both at the small and power forward positions. As a wing defender, he often lacked the foot speed and lateral quickness to defend collegiate players, let alone elite NBA wings like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. This could cause him to have a tendency to reach in a lot in the NBA, which will allow players to blow by him or force him into foul trouble.

As a power forward, Tatum will get bumped around easily by the bigger, stronger NBA players. At Duke, he seemed to have a hard time challenging players at the rim and boxing out because of his lack of lower body strength.

He will also need to work on his defensive consistency, because he tends to defend in an upright stance, which makes him susceptible to crossover moves. Also, there is a physicality aspect that Tatum lacks defensively. Offensive players just seem to have their way with him at times.

Skip to :55 seconds to see Jayson Tatum’s weaknesses on defense.

Home/Boston Celtics