TOO MUCH PRESSURE?! Stephen A. addresses Jayson Tatum’s expectations ☘️ | NBA Countdown 

Tatum doesn't need to score 30 every night on this team. The team actually plays worse at times when he tries to score too much. People just need to chill out with this guy.

Tatum has all the talent he needs. The issue at times is his motor. Sometimes it seems like he’s just floating through games, instead of bustin peoples head open.

Tatum is only 19. Give him more time to adjust

people flip flop so much when it comes to Tatum, he is blessed to have Reliable Teammates who has his back when he is off in Jaylen and White, he doesn't have a team that needs him to play Michael Jordan and try to go for 40 a night he is just not that type of player and it is OK can still be great and can still win Rings

So when he struggles and the Celtics win by 25, he’s overrated, and when he has a great game, nothing matters unless they win a ring?!

With great power comes great responsibility.

Tatum went toe to toe with prime LBJ and took it to 7 games... that's the Tatum I expect to see every game

Tatum is maturing! When he win a ring, it’s going to be fun to watch history being made 🍀

Tatum definitely has a harder time during the playoffs but he finds ways to add to the team to get the W. He has it in him!! Celtics win the East. Chip? * Fingers crossed!!

As always Stephen a is exactly right. Tatum will always have this criticism until he gets that ring

Tatum is very mature eloquent

Nobody on the ESPN NBA Playoff Panel played in the NBA. Thats crazy smh

i like this dude, great personality and a great will to win, he gonna be ok they gonna win it one day

Tatum is one of the most successful players for his age. A year younger than MJ when he won his first championship, leading his team deep into the playoffs every season of his career. The C's lost two playoff games and they talk about Tatum as he's an abject failure. That being said, as a Cs fan, this has to be the year for them to win.

Tatum needs to keep attacking the rim

That was an excellent all around explanation by all three of you, to both JT and the rest of us.

Why do people care about Stephen As opinion?

That lavender suit is fire.

Great conversation! Tatum with a great professional answer!

Tatum actually plays better as a facilitator. He is racking up a double double on a given night. Not to mention his defense has been phenomenal. The fact that he’s drawing a double team every game speaks volumes and positively impacts the team more than just racking up 30+ a game

When palms get sweaty and other things get tight Is absolutely crazy dawg

I think we all agree with how talented Tatum is. My criticism is his APPROACH … precisely because of his talent he sometimes seems to play without a derp sense of urgency and seriousness. I know he admired Kobe and he should imitate Kobs mindset… Tatum sometimes seems to lack the mental toughness and sense of urgency

Im interested in seeing if he can win a title this year

Respect 🫡 on both sides

ESPN so flip floppy

5:13 NO Diddy🤣🤣🤣

I think what a lot of people forget is that Tatum was drafted to be a third/fourth option behind Irving, Hayward and possibly even Brown. Irving’s departure coupled with Boston failing to sign Davis essentially created space for JT to become the #1 option. He has actually exceeded expectations thus far.

Jt a real hopper bro just does cool with the media he’s hard to hate he just ball

Stephen hiding behind Wilbon 😂. He was talking about you

Yes but the amount of critique he gets is crazy. I feel like ya'll talk about him because the media knows Tatum is a hot topic. Top 5 vs Not Top 5....Stephen A's video of picking Tatum over Luka. He has bad nights no question but he also get's a lot of hate, no question.

i think tatum where it goes too far is when we try to push guys ahead of him that dont have any of his accomplishments

Last Game, Pritchard took a 3 from LOGO like he is the Jayson Tatum of Boston Celtics LMFAO

Stephen a. Wow

All year long I've seen Tatum on the court making decisions for the team, not himself. He wasn't this way a few years ago, where he was criticized for taking too many contested jumpshots. Now he's developed a kind of Lebron game manager mindset and has acknowledged the ascendance of Jaylen Brown as a superstar. It takes a type of humble person with grace to grow like this, and it also takes that same kind of person to show respect to TV commentators who tend to only look at the score card to measure someone's greatness.

Loll Jt dud say the press conference ppl too as well

What with the 360p?

Stephen A “That’s #1. #2 and more importantly…” Smith

Is he great when he has the best team around him almost every single year.

Tatum is on that Butch Jones champions of life vibes

It's not that easy he will be just fine 💯🤙

his early success and growth has set the bar to high for him and he can’t constantly get up to it

He really needs to go killer mode frfr but he might not have the grit like jb does .although I'll take our Green Team overall of course.

Who cares about outside expectations. Dude has been playing the gme of ball the right way all season. He doesn’t hve to tke over scoring he has a very good team and he playing thru those guy’s as he shud. He doesn’t hve to carry his team those days are long gne. Just enjoy the ride. ITS DIFFERENT HERE!🍀💪😤

I look at it as he doesn’t have to put his foot on the gas as early in the postseason as he has before like last year against Philly the bucks etc

God I’m tired of the media

Don’t care with nobody says, After all Tatum been through he deserves a ring

JT talking about being the best player he can be by effecting the game in all ways and all SAS can mention is scoring which highlights exactly the point he’s making

Tatum needs to stop listening to the media. He’s going to be doing a lot of iso ball and jack a bunch of shots to silence them. They say this was his best game, but the Celtics only scored 106. It’s better when the ball is moving and it’s ok if he only scores 20pts but the team scores 120.

There is different standard for the Celtics. They lost 2 games this playoffs and the reaction to both have been crazy compared to when other lose

Not any given night, *EVERY* night for the most part, if you're the leader

Consistency is really hard to do. We want to see the Tatum who brought LBJ in 7 games when he was still 19 yrs old. He has so many playoff games experience and wins. He can be a playmaker at the same time a bucket when needs to. In this Cavs series, if he would just bring the ball to the rack he more likley would make it and maybe even get a foul. If step back is not falling, bring it to the rack. Nobody in the Cavs roster would be able to stop him even Mobley. But there are times or couple of times when he does ISO, he waits for the defense to settle. He should master that first step jab to blow by his guards. Every time he does that, its just bucket. Hope somebody in the locker room sees that. Good luck JT! #18 is coming!

For as great as he is, he only 26. Very decorated player and it makes us forget that. Steph was 26 KD 27, LBJ 27 & MJ 28 when they won their first title. He's actually more accomplished when it comes to winning so I don't criticize because he looks on schedule to me. 💯

If Tatum was a spur, I think that dude would be something else…. A historic great franchise, with way less media. And mentors to help him out to be that guy….

🔥

CRAZY that he's only 19 year old 😅🤣😂😅🤣🤣😂😂😅😅😂🤣😂😂😂😂🤣😂😅😅😅😂🤣😂😂😅😅😅😅😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😅😅😂🤣🤣😂😂😂😂

He avg 21 pts 10 Rebs and 5 ast they gotta stop hating. He don’t have to score 30 a night they don’t want him to do that if y’all haven’t noticed. This whole season he hasn’t been trying to score first like he usually does.

The Celtics lost Tatum had 18 points 11 rebounds 5 assists. He’s on the right track.

After he wins his first championship, I never wanna hear another Tatum slander from the media and his haters EVER... cause they'll sound even more ridiculous than now.

Tatum is playing with the best roster he has had since becoming a Celtic. Every starter is capable of scoring 40 on any given night. Last years playoffs was 27, 10, 5. This year 23, 10 & 5 w/ playing 2 less minutes per game. The panic & over reaction needs to stop. They're just looking for something Celtics to talk about.

lol he’s great in that side

Keeping Malika in check SAS n Wilbon just waiting for her to slip

What happened to Rachel Nichols?

I’ve always thought brown was the real Celtics star over Tatum and I’m a Jazz fan

The media sets the narrative... period

It’s crazy what sports in particular basketball has become it’s a daily filled drama league constantly!! I don’t know how these modern players deal with this scrutiny time and time and time again around the clock from media critique with every dribble every missed shot and every dollar… you can play five straight amazing games you have one bad game all of a sudden you’re labeled inconsistent. And another thing is there is so much money being made Now the media and upper management of these teams are holding it against these players. It’s astonishing how these dudes find ways to remain in a mindframe of wanting to play so often I see why load management is a thing!! It’s a break from all these issues!!

Tatum has been lucky to be in a winning teams sinxe drafted. So i think thats why he doesnt have the killer instinct since he knows his team is good. I bet if he was in the piston. He would have more killer instinct to scored more to get his team the win

Bill russell, NBA GOAT. 🧬🩻💊

Nah I'm calling every media pundit out. As of Saturday every playoff series was 2-1 pundits were acting like the Celtics were down 0-3. . People are going around with this "is he ever going to get it done narrative" when neither Jordan nor LeBron got it done by his age. He was 7 minutes away from a finals his rookie season at 19 years old. Playing against LeBron James. It's not his fault he was way ahead of schedule. Right now both the Celtics and Wolves are 6-2 in the playoffs but dudes are calling Ant "Jordan". Tighten up. Your standards ate lax for Ant but astronomical JT.

Jayson Tatum's one of the NBA's top players, but he's got *playoff demons* . We've seen those demons, and his contemporaries have seen those demons (ask the Golden State Warriors). It's a sad thing, and I'm sad for him.

remember I said this, if Celtics win the chip Jaylen Brown will win FMVP.

Stephen finally gave an explanation. WOW 😅😅😅😅😅

One day it’s he can’t handle it the next he’s MVP. It’s the playoffs. Relax he looks great. So far wait till the finals. Celtics are playing extremely good. I don’t care if Tatum does not score 30 points every game I would rather see them get a championship as long as they play as a team.

ESPN: Boston’s got the best roster. They have a bunch of weapons and guys that can do a lot of things. Also ESPN: JaYsOn YouR PPG iS doWn. This woke sports network is clueless.

Stephen A must've averaged 34 pts and won championships in the NBA when he played.

im not gone lie im not the biggest fan of tatum game but i woujld like to see him win one. sometimes he gets unfair criticism

Hairline crispy

As a Celtic fans all I could say is that JY and JB are so inconsistent especially in the playoffs it’s like bro cmon

The main problem with Jason tatum's game is his shot selection.

Stephen a on Tatum no disrespect when he scores u say he don't do nun else now when he get points rebounds double double 5 plus assist 2 blocks and steals a game he not scoring much

The glazing is insane

There waiting for u a seat at the superstar table jason tatum .If we get a celtis vs timberwolves finals hears ur chance to validate it with a ring

Tatum didn’t say nothing wrong. But SAS gotta chill. He called them people punks. That’s not cool

Jrue holidsy is there 5th option you know how insane that is the team js so stscked he has no excuses he vanishes to much

The funny thing is JT has been in thw playoff the moment he enter the league 😂

Just let him play basketball Media Beat Writer

He just has to be aggressive when the time is called for him to do so

he gets hated on constantly of course he's under pressure to try to play his best

Do anybody wonder has Jason Tatum reached his ceiling...he is what he is...a lower level superstar if thats a thing

You can't please espn

That was it. He plays defense and it isnt being noticed coz people only want to see scoring

If you pull Tatum and would plug Luka in Celtics would have at least 2 chips and on the way to the 3rd possibly 4th. Say that because Luka and score the just like Tatum, but Luka impacts offense more with assist and rebounds. But Luka doesn't have a team to win a chip even this year.

Bruh, we get it, the Celtics winning it all this year. You heard if hear first, theyre trying to push the narrative, that they not. This comment will age finer than wine 🍷

Did Larry Bird feel to much pressure? Did Bill Russell? Kevin Garnett? 🙄

Bruh if he wakes up and starts dominating like we know he can and they get porzingis back , they won’t losing to nobody 😂

Wilbon is my goat

Tatum is the Drake of the NBA

They haven’t been giving kyrie or Luka the flowers

tatum is the one who talks to the ghost of kobe bryant in text then shares the screen shot on social media, dont act like hes not asking for the pressure to be put on him. tatum always tries to go hero mode and has to score in a slow down face up dribbling situation, never wants to get an easy fastbreak score or a swing around and seal inside but has to be a kobe style fadeaway jumper after he tries to cook his defender

Who do you want off the screens more? A. LeBron James B. Stephen A Smith

The Boston Celtics are the Dallas Cowboys of the NBA…