What #NBAFinals Runs From #LeBron #Giannis Can Teach #JaysonTatum

What #NBAFinals Runs From #LeBron #Giannis Can Teach #JaysonTatum

Jayson Tatum, Boston's leading scorer and one of the NBA's finest young players, has been an integral part of their remarkable journey from being last in the Eastern Conference to four wins away from reaching the Finals.

That turnaround has been enabled by Tatum's relentless drive to improve on both ends of the court. This season he's shown remarkable improvement in both defensive and playmaking abilities, almost matching up his offensive prowess.

1. Dribbling

One of the most essential lessons Jayson Tatum can learn is how to dribble. Dribbling allows players to create space for themselves and other teammates, which in turn leads to easy baskets or dunks.

Dribbing is essential for young players as it helps them remain focused and avoid errors. Furthermore, it gives them a better awareness of their environment and the strengths of opponents.

Making the right decision gives them confidence to act on it. In the playoffs, this can be a vital skill for a point guard to possess as it allows them to create space for their main scorers.

Another crucial lesson Jayson Tatum can learn from LeBron Giannis is how to become more efficient when shooting. While this may seem like common sense, it's especially significant for young players who don't possess traditional shooting abilities.

He may not be shooting the ball as efficiently or effectively as LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Paul George, but he's taking more 3-pointers and shooting them at a higher percentage than other NBA perimeter shooters. That could be because he is working to improve his shot selection and efficiency.

Aside from that, he's working to enhance his mid-range jumper and passing game. These are crucial areas for him to develop as an up-and-coming young player with great potential.

2. Shooting

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics has made great progress over the past year, yet still has work to do to reach his full potential. He possesses incredible shooting ability but must improve on connecting on shots from beyond the arc.

Last season, Tatum shot just 30.6 percent from between 10 feet and three-point range, ranking 29th in the NBA. That marks a major decline from his rookie season where he hit 34.9 percent of his shots between those distances.

Last year, the Boston Celtics lost six games to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals due to Tatum's offensive numbers being down and his struggle with fatigue during the playoffs.

Tatum took this summer off from basketball to focus on perfecting his dribble-jumper 3s, which are now leading the NBA. Additionally, he worked on improving his footwork and feel for the ball so he could execute foul baiting, ripthroughs, pump fakes and other plays that make him more effective when playing defense.

When it comes to defense, Tatum can match up with some of the league's most dangerous offensive players. His long, lean frame helps him defend opponents from the wing but his strength and agility also give him the ability to guard bigger defenders on the perimeter. Tatum ranks second among wings when it comes to deterring opposing wings from scoring or assisting.

3. Passing

Before Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum could become such a cold-blooded killer, he needed to learn how to manage his emotions better. This season he hasn't had any major temper tantrums during the first half of games - an improvement from last year when head coach Joe Mazzulla had to separate him during a devastating loss against the Warriors.

He's grown into a more disciplined player, and his improved mentality guarantees nothing will stand in his way of reaching championship-level success. Furthermore, he won't settle for just one playoff run.

His idol, LeBron Giannis, has taught him there is always room for improvement. This lesson hasn't gone unnoticed by the Boston Celtics wing and will be an important one when their team takes on Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

Drew Hanlen, Tatum's coach, believes there are three essential components for developing as a passer. He needs to be aware of his environment, make informed decisions and effectively communicate with teammates.

He needs to become more aggressive around the rim and learn how to manipulate rim protectors into fouling him so he can dunk on them with ease. This has been something he's been working on throughout this season, and it has paid off: He's dunkting more frequently now and taking shots from longer distances than ever before. Additionally, he's been experimenting with pump fakes and rip-throughs which he claims have improved his touch and led him to his best shooting season yet.

4. Shooting from behind the arc

Jayson Tatum had a difficult start to the NBA Finals, making only 28 of his 82 field goal attempts and shooting just 34.1 percent from the floor in those four games. While he made 14 of 31 3-pointers, his shooting percentage inside the arc was dismal at 27.5 percent - an issue.

He got better over time. He began dunking more often, experimented with more acrobatic finishes and became fearless in taking on rim protectors to score over them. His small hands stopped holding him back, leading to increased efficiency at the rim.

He even ventured back into the post, which he had neglected during his rookie season. However, this progress proved short lived as he still wasn't making the most of his shots.

After spending last season in the NBA Development League, he's ready to take his game to the next level. But in order to reach that next tier, he needs to focus on several key areas.

Giannis can teach him one of the most essential lessons: shooting from behind the arc. When the best players in the world are competing for a spot in the playoffs, they're constantly under pressure to hit their shots from deep - which often proves crucial in tight series.

5. Shooting off the dribble

Jayson Tatum had some of the greatest shooting performances of any rookie during his first year in the NBA. He shot 43 percent from 3-point range and qualified for league leaders in efficiency across the board - an amazing achievement that puts him on track to become fourth youngest player ever to reach this statistic.

He boasts one of the greatest offensive tools in the game and can score from all areas of the floor. He can hit step back threes, off-the-dribble pull-ups and floaters while showing impressive footwork out of the mid post.

Tatum has been inconsistent this season in terms of his shooting this season. His shot selection hasn't been as precise, and he's had some unsteady moments when facing off against playoff-caliber competition.

But he's had plenty of time to work on these issues, and the Celtics have been pressing him to improve. This summer, they took him in the lab with trainer Drew Hanlen to enhance his shot profile and teach him how to take more 3s and layups.

Finally, this has enabled Tatum to enhance his overall shot selection - essential for any player with the potential to be a superstar. Additionally, it's helped him counter some of the defensive challenges he encounters when opponents attempt to disrupt his flow.

6. Staying in the game

LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo both achieved great heights after overcoming early struggles. Both athletes displayed immense promise, inspiring the franchises they played for to believe that they could become title-winning stars.

They both have perfected the art of staying in the game. From LeBron returning from knee surgery to help the Cleveland Cavaliers win a title in 2022 to Giannis proving he could handle his role on the Milwaukee Bucks, each player has learned how to manage their body so that they are at their peak performance when it matters most.

Tatum has also adopted this philosophy, and it seems to be working for him. After being denied a title in Boston last year, the 24-year-old star decided to learn from his mistakes and improve upon his game moving forward.

The Celtics are in a better position now with two young stars on the team and that means they're ready to take it to the next level. But staying motivated is key for them to achieve this success.

Nothing can be quite like missing out on an NBA championship.

It's essential for Tatum to remember that he can still have success in the playoffs if he stays focused and doesn't let anything get him down. He is an eager, talented young player, and the Boston Celtics have faith that he will be their leader to bring back a title to TD Garden.