[AdamJCallejaParticipant]

During Tatum’s stellar rookie post-season, his arsenal on offense face-up game was so reminiscent to a young Melo.

Now I know Melo’s game and reputation took a decline a bit earlier than expected but we can’t forget the offensive monster Melo was immediately in the league. 

So considering how promising Melo looked after his rookie season, & imagine you have no idea of Melo’s future troubles in the league. Who would you take to build your team around, rookie Melo or rookie Tatum?

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Melo’s a legend and a first ballot hall of famer. Amazing scorer in his prime one of the best to ever put the ball in the hoop. Tatum has great upside but so far his best 10 game stretch doesnt even compare to what Melo did for 10 years straight of his best basketball. Bit of a reach in my opinion which will likely be unpopular but I could care less.

[sweaterflexParticipant]

The stats 

I’m probably slightly more down on both than most, but I would take rookie Tatum for a couple of key reasons. 

• Tatum is a much better defender. The gap may decrease if Tatum becomes more of a primary scorer and takes plays off on defense, but Melo’s D hasn’t aged particularly well either.
• Tatum is a higher volume, more efficient 3 point shooter. He likely won’t hit half of his corner threes again, but even a slight dip places him higher than Melo.
• Tatum is a better decision maker than Melo, as reflected by assist to turnover ratio. I don’t think Tatum will be an exceptional creator for others (more akin to PG3), but he understands how to play within himself (partially reflected in strong coaching).
• Tatum is likely to play in a better scheme with better floor-spacing. Boston is dedicated to having a bunch of capable wings and floor stretching bigs. Karl and D’Antoni had their moments with Melo, but frequently the situation was not great.
•  Melo’s strongest advantage (getting to the line) faded when comparing their playoff performance, and also dipped halfway through his career. I see peak Tatum scoring a little bit less than Melo, but far more efficiently, putting up something like 25 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4 apg on 60%TS and being the second best player on a title team.

 

 

[frogmanParticipant]

 The answer is Melo.  I know everyone’s opinion on him has dropped in the last five or so years and many here probably didn’t even see his rookie season.

Tatum looks like a future all-star.  Melo was looking like a future top 10 all-time player after his rrokie season.  He was unlucky to lose out ROY to Lebron.

 

 

 

[Andv1 WaitingParticipant]

 Who is the coach of each player and what is put around them though:

As that is the hard call Taytum has been the receipient of 2 great coaches in stevens and coach K.

Melo had a snake in Karl…Melo also has never played with half the mentors/talent that Taytum did

Horford(team player over individual) vs A.I(hence the bench reluctancys)

Melo did force a trade to his second team gutting it in the process..Taytum may do this after he eventually goes full Kobe and stops getting his touches lol…

But lets say they both got the same rosters and coaches. Who do I think I would build around?

I think if they are both in this era: Taytum has more tangibles to be better overall and has the greater likelihood of being a two way player however the issue is this We know Melo has carried a team in a more balanced league(anyone could have one in playoffs not just a GSW) and when he had a legit PG he did ok while in his prime…He just needed a Russell Westbrook in his prime not now as he can’t keep up due to age and lack of conditioning…VS Taytum looks like a good team player not so much a star(right now that is) . But if he can stay healthy I could see him having the greater two way potential,the issue is this though will he ever be the Man on a team? We will never know the answer to this until he either asks for a trade or he leaves the celtics on his 2nd deal(UFA deal after his RFA one).

So if I wanted a star level player I choose Melo as he has one at all levels except the NBA and with less than Ideal sitiuations+ has been the Man however if I wanted a more likely to be great player who could be more more likely to win Rings and awards I choose Taytum who could be in the conversation for all awards: Defense,offense etc not just offensive awards.. Then I choose Taytum the only issue with the call is how will he do being the legit number 1 option..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BeastMode716Participant]

 to a young Melo but I’d still put Melo ahead – as a right now & I’ll give an explanation as to why

Both Melo & Tatum were 2 of the most Polished 19 y/o perimeter scorers we’ve seen in the modern NBA – 2 players who when your team needs a bucket, you can throw the ball to Melo or Tatum on the wing & they have the incredible ability at a Very young age to Get Buckets! 

Where I give Melo the advantage was his strength & ability to take the ball to the rack immediately upon entering the NBA – 19 y/o Rookie Carmelo avg 21 points a game but what is really incredible is Melo got to the Free Throw Line 6.4X per game as a Rookie!

That is a Crazy number for a kid who was primarily a perimeter player & who did not handle to ball. 

Now Tatum got to the Free Throw 3.2X per game as a Rookie – Tatum is not quite as strong as Melo whe people might not remember was silky smooth but he was a Bull, the kid was strong – that being said, I believe Tatum’s Rookie #’s of 13.9 ppg & 3.2 FTA’s per game were Outstanding! 

And more a function of that fact that Boston is a Much better team than Melo’s Denver team & the Celtics did Not need Tatum to take on so much scoring responsibiltiy & this seems to be Proven in the playoffs when the Celtics DID need to Depend on Tatum as a Go To Scorer Tatum’s #’s jumped to 18.5 ppg & 5.1 FTA’s – which are Amazing stats Just below Melo 

All in all this is a Great comparison & Tatum – just like Melo is gonna fill up the Bucket at the NBA level for a Long Time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BeastMode716Participant]

 to a young Melo but I’d still put Melo ahead – as a right now & I’ll give an explanation as to why

Both Melo & Tatum were 2 of the most Polished 19 y/o perimeter scorers we’ve seen in the modern NBA – 2 players who when your team needs a bucket, you can throw the ball to Melo or Tatum on the wing & they have the incredible ability at a Very young age to Get Buckets! 

Where I give Melo the advantage was his strength & ability to take the ball to the rack immediately upon entering the NBA – 19 y/o Rookie Carmelo avg 21 points a game but what is really incredible is Melo got to the Free Throw Line 6.4X per game as a Rookie!

That is a Crazy number for a kid who was primarily a perimeter player & who did not handle to ball. 

Now Tatum got to the Free Throw 3.2X per game as a Rookie – Tatum is not quite as strong as Melo whe people might not remember was silky smooth but he was a Bull, the kid was strong – that being said, I believe Tatum’s Rookie #’s of 13.9 ppg & 3.2 FTA’s per game were Outstanding! 

And more a function of that fact that Boston is a Much better team than Melo’s Denver team & the Celtics did Not need Tatum to take on so much scoring responsibiltiy & this seems to be Proven in the playoffs when the Celtics DID need to Depend on Tatum as a Go To Scorer Tatum’s #’s jumped to 18.5 ppg & 5.1 FTA’s – which are Amazing stats Just below Melo 

All in all this is a Great comparison & Tatum – just like Melo is gonna fill up the Bucket at the NBA level for a Long Time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BeastMode716Participant]

 to a young Melo but I’d still put Melo ahead – as a right now & I’ll give an explanation as to why

Both Melo & Tatum were 2 of the most Polished 19 y/o perimeter scorers we’ve seen in the modern NBA – 2 players who when your team needs a bucket, you can throw the ball to Melo or Tatum on the wing & they have the incredible ability at a Very young age to Get Buckets! 

Where I give Melo the advantage was his strength & ability to take the ball to the rack immediately upon entering the NBA – 19 y/o Rookie Carmelo avg 21 points a game but what is really incredible is Melo got to the Free Throw Line 6.4X per game as a Rookie!

That is a Crazy number for a kid who was primarily a perimeter player & who did not handle to ball. 

Now Tatum got to the Free Throw 3.2X per game as a Rookie – Tatum is not quite as strong as Melo whe people might not remember was silky smooth but he was a Bull, the kid was strong – that being said, I believe Tatum’s Rookie #’s of 13.9 ppg & 3.2 FTA’s per game were Outstanding! 

And more a function of that fact that Boston is a Much better team than Melo’s Denver team & the Celtics did Not need Tatum to take on so much scoring responsibiltiy & this seems to be Proven in the playoffs when the Celtics DID need to Depend on Tatum as a Go To Scorer Tatum’s #’s jumped to 18.5 ppg & 5.1 FTA’s – which are Amazing stats Just below Melo 

All in all this is a Great comparison & Tatum – just like Melo is gonna fill up the Bucket at the NBA level for a Long Time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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