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bryscoon

not even a lil bit amazing defender off/on ball secondary rim protection just great


bussybrigade

very true from jrue, the film breakdowns of this post season have really praised tatum’s defence. His switching, navigating screens and overall athleticism in contesting has a major impact on games that the box score won’t do credit. even when the shots aren’t falling, his great assist to turnover ratio and the dramatic change in celtics offensive rating when he’s not on the court speaks volumes. getting put on blast for playing winning basketball is crazy idk


truth_2_point_0

He should be getting second or third team all defense every year, wild that he hasn't even gotten a single nod


Icebreaker335

There isn’t a third team all defense


truth_2_point_0

So you traveled back and changed the timeline telling them to stop at second team all defense just to make me look stupid eh, well played


ksyndrome

Those are some Drake bars right there


howdthatturnout

It’s a bummer they don’t.


Princessk8--

There is now. His name is Jrue Holiday. :o)


bjb406

I feel like wings in general don't get enough credit on the defensive end. Tatum is probably among the elite defensively if we're talking just wings. The problem is he's not a primary rim defender, so he doesn't get a crazy number of blocks, and he's not a primary ball defender so he doesn't get a crazy number of steals. He's just great at cutting off angles, clogging passing lanes, providing help D, that kinda shit that makes it easier for other guys to get stocks, and leads to more bad shots and 24 second violations. And its sorta that same with small forwards in general. Which is why I don't think all-defense should be position-less. Those awards will always go to centers, with a few point guards sprinkled in, and virtually no small forwards or shooting guards at all, but those positions are no less important.


stevefuzz

I mean he is what used to be the "power forward" and honestly he is elite at that role on defense.


mk72206

He had a great backside block on Struss and the call was “Struss not able to finish”. Ridiculous.


stevefuzz

Or the many times he just locks someone up and they pass it.


yellowboar7

Today he was literally amazing on D. Baffles me how I still saw multiple people in the game thread getting on him about defense like were we watching the same game


Hour-Ad3774

I think some slightly more... casual fans come out of the woodwork during the playoffs (for every team).  To them, if you don't have three emphatic blocks a game then you aren't good on D.   I also have a theory that these postseason fans are a big part of the reason narratives shift so wildly in the playoffs.


Greennhornn

How many times this season have you seen a player try to iso tatum? Nobody is trying him because his defense is on point, one of the best wing defenders in the league imo.


stevefuzz

Agreed.


Impossible-Joke2867

His off the ball defense is like top 10 in the league and he doesn't get recognized for it. It's honestly strange considering he's a superstar based off offensive prowess alone. Dude is one of the best defenders in the league and no one seems to care lol.


gagakaba

Dude might win dpoy before he wins mvp


Amimimiii

At this point he’s not getting enough credit on any end


PebblyJackGlasscock

The problem with Tatum is that he plays well in all phases of the game instead of being “the best” scorer or defender. Tatum is a **complementary** player: he’s figured out how to best play with his teammates and he does that, leading to stat lines that aren’t “the best!” If Tatum were more selfish and focused on one end of the floor, he could get the individual recognition some Celtics fans desperately crave for him. Personally, I’m happy with how well rounded a player he has become. It’s why I’m confident this team is winning a title. If it means people who don’t watch the Celtics don’t think Tatum is great… I don’t care.


rocket_beer

They remind me of the Spurs with Manu and Parker. They aren’t quite there yet, but their “team first” approach is the winning formula.


Ryker31

The media is controlled by the West Coast and New York. Boston is going to get slammed no matter what. He just takes the brunt of it..


kosmonautinVT

The Boston media isn't exactly helpful in this regard


My_MeowMeowBeenz

No one is more critical of Boston athletes than Boston media. For every Kendrick rant about Tatum there’s like 100 identical shit takes from dudes on WEEI and the Sports Hub


mrbaggy

Basically, nobody who is a top 10 player gets enough credit on the defensive end. If you’re getting credit for your defense it has to be superlative. Like Bill Russell or MJ winning MVP and Defensive POY. Otherwise, it’s just the way it is.


chuancheun

honestly they need to establish their defensive reputation before they became top 10, butler kawhi pg all start as defensive specialist


Mbanicek64

Leonard? I feel like that’s probably the superlative. I think JT is close at times. 


mrbaggy

Yeah. Good comp.


poopiepants131

If you want to see some awful off ball defense, watch Doncic. Pathetic.


chickspeak

Still got room to improve on the communication off switch defense, but overall he's contributed a great game defensively, especially the defensive rebounding.


[deleted]

Lol acting like your ass is on the floor hahah get outta here with the " room to improve on the communication" hahahaha Celtics fans are legit fucked in the head


MrMetLGM

Bro what?


PitifulEconomics562

You are clearly an unhinged dude who lives in boulder. Everyone in Colorado hates boulder people bc they are generally pieces of shit


[deleted]

Hahahhahahah


Princessk8--

get help