Ramp to Camp: What extra can Jayson Tatum add to his recreation?

Ramp to Camp: What more can Jayson Tatum add to his game? initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jayson Tatum has at all times been fairly good with predictions. Over the summer time he shared an essay he wrote in the fourth grade wherein he primarily laid out his future as an NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist.

During an appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, Tatum was requested to foretell the NBA’s subsequent Most Worthwhile Participant.

“Can I say myself?” Tatum responded with a smile.

MVP appears like one of many few bins Tatum has left to verify as he ascends into the uppermost echelon of NBA elite. However what can he add to his recreation to assist attain that lofty perch?

For the ninth installment in our Ramp To Camp sequence, we requested our NBC Sports activities Boston panel to choose one factor they’d wish to see from Jayson Tatum throughout the 2024-25 season.

(Try the first eight installments of Ramp to Camp here.)

Tatum, a three-time All-NBA First-Teamer, already has two top-six finishes in MVP voting (sixth in 2024; fourth in 2023). His scoring dipped final season however his playmaking developed as Tatum did much more of the little issues that helped Boston dominate the league.

There isn’t rather a lot to quibble about. Tatum had his finest season ending on the rim (72 %) and pushed his 3-point taking pictures proportion north of his profession mark (37.6 % final yr). Some will quibble together with his shot choice, and after some early success within the put up final season, we’d like to see him lean slightly heavier into working in that spot over the course of a season.

However, for this author, it’s all about Tatum’s evolution as a playmaker.

Tatum attracts a lot consideration that it creates simple scoring possibilities for his teammates. Throughout Boston’s dominant postseason run, his potential assists per recreation spiked to 10.1. He had extra potential assists within the finals (10.8 per recreation) than Luka Doncic (9.6), and created practically 4 extra help factors per recreation than Doncic in that sequence.

Tatum has solely three profession triple-doubles, however one came early during Boston’s 2024 playoff run. By leaning just a bit heavier into playmaking, it appears like a triple-double might be a nightly flirtation.

Tatum’s court docket imaginative and prescient simply retains evolving. He’ll often unleash the one-hand, cross-court dart that LeBron James would possibly ship. And do not forget that behind-the-back feed to Al Horford in East Finals towards the Pacers?

That’s peak Tatum. Perhaps even MVP Tatum.

Here’s what our panel wish to see:

Let’s hit that 5 assists-per-game mark. (Tatum averaged a career-high 4.9 final season).

Everybody’s gonna say higher soar taking pictures, and I would like that, too. However Tatum ought to ignore the Olympics noise and proceed rising as a facilitator. It will take the strain off him in the long term. Plus, it is what winners do.

Tom Giles, Multi-platform host

Develop into a killer within the closing moments.

Individuals nationally gravitate towards guys who make clutch pictures (i.e. Jamal Murray). I would like to see Tatum have just a few of these buzzer-beater moments and am curious what that does for his nationwide notion.

Max Lederman, Multi-platform producer

Tatum could make all of the pictures, so what I would actually like him to work on is shot choice.

His area aim proportion on step-back 3s has declined in every of the final three seasons, so except he turns that round, I would like him taking fewer of them this season. I would not thoughts extra midrange jumpers and I will be elated if he works in additional of these turnaround baseline jumpers he by no means appears to overlook.

Mark Hazlett, Multi-platform producer

Whereas I would like the remainder of the staff to go away final season behind, I would like Tatum to lean IN to profitable the title.

At occasions, it appears like JT can press late in tight video games. Jayson, you are actually minted in NBA lore. The load has lifted off your broad shoulders. I believe he ranges up once more.

Extra drives to the basket.

Tatum averaged simply 6.7 free throw makes an attempt per recreation final season after trying a career-high 8.2 per recreation in 2022-23. If he makes a concerted effort to get to the rack extra in 2024-25, his improved playmaking might help generate nice appears to be like for his teammates.

Tatum was a wonderful playmaker within the playoffs, particularly in the clinching Game 5 of the Finals when he had 11 assists. He averaged 6.3 assists per recreation within the postseason — an enchancment from his 4.9 dimes per recreation within the common season.

Tatum’s passing has improved a lot since his rookie season. It would not be a nasty concept to have him provoke the offense slightly extra as a point-forward, particularly if he is nonetheless on the ground early within the recreation with the second unit.

Shot choice.

Tatum is at his finest when he is attacking the rim moderately than settling for contested 3-pointers. He goes by means of phases the place he remembers that and dominates, however he must be extra constant if he hopes to be a critical contender for the MVP award.

Kevin Miller, VP, Content material

There are just a few locations the place JT might proceed to change into extra environment friendly — catch-and-shoot 3s, mid-post baskets, and ending on the rim. I am going with the final one because the one I wish to see essentially the most, purely resulting from an evolution of mindset.

I would like him to consider he can end excessive of individuals, draw extra and-ones, and simply convey a “do not mess with me” mentality. It is in there and we’ll see it extra this season.