Boston Celtics: 3 serious reasons team can win 2019-20 NBA title

Jayson Tatum Makes The Leap

How soon we forget:

If Irving’s failure of leadership was the lead story to the Boston Celtics’ lost season, Tatum’s regression from his remarkable rookie season was a close second. His efficiency took a step back as his volume increased, leaving some observers wondering if he’s really more of a complimentary player than the budding superstar he once seemed.

Let’s remember that Tatum’s most frequently cited NBA comparables are Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, Rudy Gay, Jabari Parker and Harrison Barnes. All but Pierce are best known as score-first players with limited skills as facilitators and defenders. And hey, championship teams need great scorers just as much as they need gifted playmakers, shutdown defenders and tough rebounders.

But to truly ascend to the pantheon of NBA superstars, you need to do more than get buckets. Another of Tatum’s comparables, Dirk Nowitzki, is a prime example of a great shooter elevating other facets of his game to become a perennial all-star. Fortunately there are reasons to believe Tatum likewise possesses the qualities necessary to elevate his own game and reach that elite level.

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First, Tatum is still just 21 years old and already has two years of NBA experience under his belt. By comparison, Pierce was already 21 when he made his NBA debut during the 1998-99 season. On the other hand, Melo and Parker, like Tatum, entered the league as teenagers and each showed significant improvement in their third season. Nowitzki became an all-star in his fourth season, but it was in his third that he arguably ascended to that level with his performance.

Further, the numbers indicate Tatum already showed growth last season as a passer and rebounder. His Per 100 Possession rates point to improvement as a facilitator (from 2.6 to 3.3 assists) and a more active rebounder (8.2 to 9.4 rebounds).

And while his defensive rating regressed from his rookie year, among players averaging at least 25 minutes per game, Tatum placed 27th overall, just behind Draymond Green and ahead of Al Horford. In his rookie season, Tatum placed 7th among some of the NBA’s best defenders.

Lastly, Tatum has frequently been lauded for his work ethic. No less an authority than Hall of Famer Grant Hill said this about Tatum during his one-and-done season at Duke:

"“He’s a grinder,” Hill said. “He’s a guy that you can tell from his skill set. If you’re that young, to be that polished already, footwork, the understanding of how to use his body, how to get off his shot, his total package, his bag of tricks. It’s at an elite level to be young. You don’t just naturally get that. That’s hours and hours of putting time in the gym.”"

Tatum isn’t yet the kind of player a team builds a championship contender around. But between his talent, drive and experience, he’s primed to make that leap sooner than later.