Defending Jayson Tatum – CelticsBlog

Jayson Tatum is an MVP candidate and probably the most harmful offensive skills on the planet. He has one of many deepest luggage within the league with the power to attain from all areas of the ground with an countless array of strikes. Catch and shoot threes? Verify. Off-the-dribble pull-ups or step-back threes? Affirmative. Midrange pull-ups, floaters, and excessive publish recreation? You wager. On-the-block publish recreation? Thanks, sir. Might I’ve one other? Dribble penetration and ending on the rim? He’s him. Attending to the road at excessive quantity and knocking them down? All night time lengthy.

He packs all of these abilities right into a chiseled 6’8” body with a 7’ wingspan. Good luck, defenders.

Regardless of Tatum’s embarrassment of offensive riches, the opposite workforce is making an attempt to win too. Opposing coaches pore over his recreation movie on the lookout for minute flaws that they will exploit. With the data they’ve gleaned, these coaches deploy their very own elite athletes to attempt to gradual Tatum down and drive him into errors when potential.

The best adjustment a coach could make to try to restrict a star participant is to double him. For a perimeter-oriented participant like Tatum, that double would often come within the type of trapping his ball screens to get the ball out of his fingers and make it not possible for him to focus on mismatches. Whereas coaches have definitely tried that technique in opposition to Tatum at occasions, he has largely neutralized its effectiveness within the final 12 months or two together with his exponential development as a passer and decision-maker.

Tatum has turn out to be considerably extra expert at making the passes essential to beat traps, from early pocket bounce passes and mini-lobs to a brief roll to extra superior cross-court skip passes with both hand to hit shooters on the weak aspect. Maybe extra vital than the technical talent improvement has been Tatum’s development and willingness to get off the ball on time in opposition to doubles. He now not fights the entice or tries to drive his personal offense. With rising frequency, he acknowledges traps, manipulates the protection with a drag dribble when mandatory, after which makes the best go on the proper time. It most likely doesn’t damage that the remainder of the roster is stacked with versatile offensive gamers that may drive or shoot successfully with the intention to punish the 4v3s that come up when Tatum attracts two defenders.

Whereas coaches threat unlocking the remainder of the Celtics’ offense by trapping Tatum, they must do one thing to gradual him down. Any defensive recreation plan will begin with an preliminary matchup. Some defenders which have finished an admirable job making Tatum work for his scoring alternatives over the previous few years embrace Dillon Brooks, Wesley Matthews, PJ Tucker, Kyle Lowry, Jrue Vacation, and Andrew Wiggins. I’m not saying these gamers are “Tatum stoppers” or something like that, however they do a very good job of competing and making him uncomfortable at occasions. What qualities do these defenders have in frequent that assist them current challenges to Tatum?

Decrease middle of gravity with a sturdy base: There are solely a handful of athletes in all the NBA that may match up with Tatum’s top, size, power, and mobility. Most of these gamers (Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokoumpo, and so forth.) are offensive stars in their very own proper and attempt to restrict the power they must expend on the defensive finish of the ground quite than checking the highest possibility on the opposite workforce. Consequently, coaches often have to surrender one thing once they select a matchup for Tatum, and that one thing is often measurement. A participant within the 6’3” – 6’6” vary can at occasions get beneath Tatum on the perimeter, problem his catch factors, and swipe at his dribble from a decrease stance.

Physicality and veteran savvy: Whereas Tatum has improved his personal power and physicality with every passing 12 months within the league, constantly bodily protection can nonetheless put on on him at occasions and drive him into poor choices. As an opposing coach, I’d sacrifice some footspeed right here for elevated physicality and power. Youthful gamers might need extra velocity, however they typically can’t match Tatum’s athleticism, and their inexperience permits Tatum to shake free together with his countless array of footwork, dribble strikes, and shot selection. Veteran gamers are extra skilled in working the margins of what’s allowed defensively. Off the ball, they clutch, seize, and bump to make Tatum work tougher to come back off screens or catch the ball additional away from the ring than he would love. On the ball, they swipe, nudge, and flop (*Kyle Lowry*) their approach into being a nuisance on Tatum’s drives.

Andrew Wiggins: There’s a cause Tatum struggled to unlock his full scoring arsenal in opposition to the Warriors in final 12 months’s NBA Finals. Sure, he was exhausted from a protracted playoff run and coping with a difficult wrist harm. Sure, the Warriors have probably the most linked workforce defenses within the league quarterbacked by Draymond Inexperienced’s Mensa-level defensive basketball IQ. However in addition they have doubtlessly probably the most preferrred Tatum defender within the league in Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins is likely one of the uncommon gamers who can match up with Tatum’s athletic profile. However, in contrast to a Paul George, Wiggins is his workforce’s third or 4th possibility offensively and might afford to exert the power it takes to wrestle with an offensive famous person all recreation lengthy.

As with all offensive star within the NBA, inflicting them issues is commonly extra reliant on workforce defensive schemes than one defensive participant making an attempt to lock them down. So, what schemes can current challenges for Tatum’s skillset and drive him into much less environment friendly play?

Ball display protection: I already lined why I’d be hesitant to entice Tatum on ball screens. Switching ball screens presents points as properly since Tatum would then be capable to choose his most well-liked defender to focus on in isolation. Not many groups have the defensive versatility of the Celtics who can ceaselessly flip to lineups stuffed with plus defenders, permitting them to change screens with confidence. I’d lean in direction of a slight drop protection in opposition to Tatum whereas instructing the defender guarding the screener to remain inside a step of the three level line to problem pull-up 3s. This protection would job Tatum’s defender with preventing by, over, or across the ball display to get again into the motion from behind. Whereas Tatum is greater than able to strolling right into a pull-up 3, he typically shoots from proper on the 3 level line (versus somebody like Steph Curry or Dame Lillard who will pull from 30+ toes with no conscience). Moreover, whereas Tatum knocks down catch-and-shoot 3s at a 42.4% clip, his proportion on dribble pull-ups drops to twenty-eight.6%.

Late however constant assistance on Tatum’s dribble penetration: I’d be asking my main defender on Tatum to be bodily and aggressive with him, work continuously to problem his catch factors, drive him additional away from the basket, and harass him with ball strain on the level of assault. That technique of prolonged strain means it will likely be tough for the defender to remain in entrance of Tatum when he places his head down and drives to the rim. At this level, it will be as much as assist defenders to assist the person guarding Tatum as he drives to the basket. Whereas NBA groups don’t sometimes dig in from the sturdy aspect since they don’t wish to quit a kick out go to a nook three, I’d be keen to dig in on Tatum beginning on his second dribble. Tatum has gotten significantly better at ending on the rim on his drives, however he nonetheless prefers to complete off one foot quite than coming to a two-foot soar cease. A late dig from the wing can catch Tatum after he has dedicated to a collect right into a ending transfer, making it much less seemingly that he creates an open catch-and-shoot three for a teammate on a kick out go. Moreover, the inside rim protector must rotate to problem Tatum on the rim with size. Once more, Tatum has turn out to be adept at making the best learn (a lob to Rob within the dunker spot or a weak aspect skip go to a nook 3) if he sees the assistance early, so it will be significant for that rim protector to have a powerful sense of timing once they contest.

If opponents marry these defensive methods collectively (intense ball strain from the first defender, slight drop protection on ball screens with out giving up uncontested pull-up 3s, and late assist from a number of instructions on drives to the paint), Tatum would basically by no means see a snug catch-and-shoot look all through the sport (barring a defensive breakdown) and can be continuously induced to drive into site visitors. By taking part in with constant physicality and forcing Tatum to drive into site visitors within the paint, the protection would seemingly run the chance of fouling Tatum and sending him to the free throw line ceaselessly. Nonetheless, that may be a useful commerce off if it stored Tatum from reaching a consolation degree together with his shot making from the ground. I took a take a look at a few of Tatum’s worst taking pictures performances from this season and chosen 4 video games in opposition to playoff caliber opposition when Tatum struggled.

What jumped out to me was that in a number of of his poorest taking pictures video games, Tatum nonetheless obtained to the free throw line at a excessive frequency with 12 makes an attempt in three of the 4 video games I spotlighted. Nonetheless, these groups had been capable of restrict the frequency of Tatum’s 2-point area objective makes an attempt and drive him to shoot considerably decrease than his season common percentages from each 2 and three. These stats bear out the potential influence that constant defensive physicality can have on Tatum, even when it finally ends up with him taking pictures just a few extra free throws than common.

Each Tatum and the Celtics are definitely very conscious of what opponents could attempt to do to disrupt Tatum’s rhythm offensively. Whereas Tatum was ridiculously productive throughout final 12 months’s playoffs, he additionally had probably the most turnovers ever in a single playoff run because the Bucks, Warmth, and Warriors constantly employed among the methods I’ve outlined right here. Tatum obtained within the lab together with his coach, Drew Hanlen, final offseason so as to add to his offensive toolbox, and the Celtics have additionally launched some new wrinkles into the offense to assist Tatum counter the defensive consideration he garners.

Counters:

Utilizing Tatum as a screener with elevated frequency: The Celtics have clearly emphasised incorporating extra units and actions during which Tatum serves as a screener early within the shot clock. Celtics Weblog’s personal Adam Taylor not too long ago did a movie breakdown on Tatum’s effectiveness as a roll man when he units ball screens. Utilizing Tatum as a roll man leverages the defensive consideration he receives to unencumber his teammates whereas additionally permitting him to obtain catches on the elbows or on the transfer rolling or diving into the paint when the assistance is not going to have time to react to him on the rim. Along with utilizing Tatum as a ball screener extra ceaselessly, in addition they use him to set double stagger pindown screens, an motion that enables him to slide all the way down to the block at occasions for paint catches. Units like these have seen Tatum’s display assists practically double from 0.5 per recreation in 2021-22 to 0.9 per recreation in 2022-23. However the display assists are solely half the story as Tatum truly creates higher catch factors and pictures for himself the extra successfully he screens for others.

Tatum’s elevated choices to attain within the publish in opposition to smaller defenders: Since we mentioned earlier the advantages of guarding Tatum with shorter personnel, it stands to cause that Tatum ought to be capable to use his top benefit within the publish. Previously, Tatum has not at all times been capable of reap the benefits of smaller gamers like Kyle Lowry or Jrue Vacation. They’ve been ready to make use of their low middle of gravity to stonewall him on the block or poke his dribble away if he places the ball on the ground. Tatum has added some easy however efficient publish strikes this 12 months to make use of his measurement to make him extra harmful in these conditions.

Tatum 2-Hand Publish End In opposition to Bruce Brown

Right here, we see Tatum hold two fingers firmly on the ball as he brings his arms up into the chest of Brown, a sturdy defender. Tatum’s two hand grip permits him to soak up and end by the contact from the defender.

Tatum And-1 2-Hand Publish End In opposition to Jamal Murray

On this play, we see a really related transfer the place, after going through up and giving Murray a jab step, Tatum sweeps by sturdy with two fingers on the ball into Murray’s chest and as soon as once more absorbs and finishes by contact. This time, in opposition to a slighter defender, Tatum earns an And-1 alternative.

Tatum Rise and Fireplace Publish Soar Shot In opposition to Zach Lavine

On this publish catch in opposition to Zach Lavine, Tatum sees Nikola Vucevic lurking within the paint, and Patrick Williams is beginning to shade over in direction of a double workforce. Fairly than placing the ball on the ground and driving into site visitors, Tatum makes use of his superior size to easily rise and hearth excessive of the protection.

A majority of these strikes permit Tatum to punish smaller defenders within the publish, and so they give him an alternate the place he can generate inside paint pictures (and the free throw makes an attempt that include them) with out having to continuously drive right into a thicket of assist defenders.

As we strategy the playoffs and the stakes for every recreation and possession develop increased, it will likely be fascinating to observe Tatum proceed to evolve to fulfill the defensive challenges thrown his approach as he elevates to the best ranges of superstardom.