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Boston’s Increasingly Impressed With Jayson Tatum

The rookie is way ahead of schedule

NBA: Preseason-Charlotte Hornets at Boston Celtics
Oct 2, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the first half of a preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden. 
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

With players joining the NBA with just one year of college, you sometimes hear about guys who are offensively gifted but defense usually is a question of time.

According to Brad Stevens, Duke product Jayson Tatum is well ahead of schedule:

“I don’t know if surprised is the right word, but Jayson Tatum’s defense is beyond his years. He’s very savvy and very long. He uses his length. His arms are out and he gets his hands on balls and deflects passes and discourages drives just because of his length. I think he’ll continue to get better and better with the other stuff systemically, but he’s done a good job for a young guy so far.”