Three years ago, I broached the idea of Brad Stevens giving Jayson Tatum more time at the point guard spot - and took some heat from readers. The title of the piece was:
Putting Tatum at the Point Sporadically Could Fast-Forward MVP Contention
Now, prior to the 2023-24 NBA season, it appears that the 6'8" combo forward will play more than "sporadically" at the "one" spot.
I think the Celtics play at a slower pace when Tatum brings the ball up, but he has proven he can initiate the offense effectively.
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) September 21, 2023
It speaks to Tatum's ability to adapt to what his team needs. It's hard to come up with a situation where he's a bad fit.pic.twitter.com/SICug6BnL5
Jayson's name should be in contention this season for MVP, but his assist numbers would need to take at least a small leap. Logging more time at the point would also help to propel him into the oncourt leader of The Green. . Derrick White seems to have the hold as starting point guard - and Malcolm Brogdon (should he remain in Boston) might be expected to cover that position when Derrick sits.
But expect to see Joe Mazzulla experiment a lot more with Tatum bringing the ball up. All of a sudden, that prospect may no longer seem as improbable as it appeared in 2020.
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