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

On NBA Countdown, Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon join Malika Andrews to dissect whether Jayson Tatum has too much pressure on his shoulders to lead the Boston Celtics to an NBA Title.
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[@ScottH.]

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.

[@somregularguy]

Thats what comes with the star/superstar label

[@user-ow7gl4jq7k]

Literally , you can tell these people jus watching g the box score 😂😂

[@jasonwolfe3252]

No he doesn't but he needs to be efficient. He's shooting like 40 fg and 30 from 3. Also shouldn't be turning the ball over like he's been doing.

[@msimon74ify]

We are all watching the game. He needs to be the best player on the court and that’s pretty much it

[@TheHarryLIam]

if we are being honest he generally doesn't play his best in series clinching games

[@tinobrown1780]

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.

[@Godtier609]

I agree this is the best tske I've heard/read ever on Tatum.

[@goodymob9638]

It's not his personality, everyone doesn't have the Kobe and MJ killa instinct.

[@matthewdunham1689]

He's just not a winner.

[@goodymob9638]

@@matthewdunham1689 Ok casual, what have you won. 🤔

[@jtellis653]

@@matthewdunham1689you’ll say this then be silent when he gets a ring.

[@thehighearners]

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?!

[@Bfasho_]

Lmao rt

[@bigsteppa814]

Unfortunately yes, I’m a Celtics fan and it is genuinely championship or bust, because this team is so good

[@LISANDRO67826782]

Always moving the goal post. I bet after he wins a ring they'll start saying that ofc he should've won it and needs another ring

[@thegoat2994]

Tatum is only 19. Give him more time to adjust

[@wirelessbrain12]

19?

[@beaugilmore361]

17 bro

[@Jckuz1man]

@@wirelessbrain12it’s a joke among Celtics and nba fans

[@Nostalgia9478]

Forever young lol

[@or3325]

@@beaugilmore361He just became 12 this year

[@Im-wd6tx]

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

[@etiennemadore5899]

Media are on him because Tatum said those things. He brought the pressure onto himself. He called himself the best player on the planet. Of course these analysts will criticize him after performing poorly.

[@chez3869]

@@etiennemadore5899 BINGO!

[@kingcollins3965]

​@etiennemadore5899, every great player believe they are the best. Jordan believed it and didn't win a ring till he was 27 or 28. 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@jaymolina7248]

He never said the best he said "one of the best" which is accurate ​@etiennemadore5899

[@chez3869]

@@kingcollins3965 Michael Jordan didn't come in the nba @19....Tatum came in @19 n went to the conferences against Lebron n still has not won a ring on a top team in the league for several years now it's getting annoying mj won in year 7....guess wat it's Tatum year 7 make some shii happen danmit

[@Iamjustavibe]

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

[@TCRgalaxy]

TaDUMB🤡🤡🤡

[@TheMarsKidd]

As a 19 year old rookie at that

[@Nostalgia9478]

Prime LBJ with no Kyrie , and Kevin Love out injured lol

[@aaravjha1376]

U got a vid called “helping out a youngling” 🤣🤣🤣 grown man btw

[@TheMarsKidd]

​@@Nostalgia9478Kyrie was on Boston injured and not playing. Kevin love was playing. Do ya Googles

[@davidsok7596]

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

[@Me3ks89]

As a Laker fan … Boston will making trades after yall lose the ECF 😂

[@scottiegang2236]

Yea Tatum isn’t winning a ring

[@MarkNinoMorales]

Y’all bitter Laker fans. 😂

[@mattsell2361]

If Tatum wins a ring I feel like the next year he will be so much better because it will be such a relief from all the pressure

[@Me3ks89]

@@MarkNinoMorales Bitter Lol? Boston ain’t won nothing since they Jumped Kobe in 08 with that all star team and bench 😂 yall a overhyped never winning team I swear

[@harborwolf22]

With great power comes great responsibility.

[@coreyaintzero8006]

Not sure if this works here lol

[@williedaviskcmo]

@@coreyaintzero8006 I hope it does I hope he finds the killer instinct

[@Jckuz1man]

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

[@emoneyizhereson]

as always 🤣🤣🤣

[@Tomb413]

will still have it if he wins. They have this roster locked up long term. 'super team' or whatever they saying.

[@Aaron-ej6wj]

@@emoneyizhereson Seeing this comment made me wanna pull my hair off my head and feed it to myself, Stephen a is wrong 90% of the time😭😭😭😭

[@masstarvation]

Stephen A is not always right, he is just a prisoner of the moment. He also said the Nuggets will be swept, then suddenly went back on his statement after the Nuggets won. He also said the Lakers will take it to game 7 with the Nuggets. He has a lot of recency bias in his statements. He just loves to bash players then go back at his words when he is proven wrong

[@SmokingSwisher]

@@masstarvation In all fairness a lot of people thought the nuggets would be swept lol the wolves looked unstoppable, + they were without gobert

[@JsP1318]

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!!

[@MuadhRazaque]

Tatum is very mature eloquent

[@Simonfrios]

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.

[@jesisghimire7216]

Why do people care about Stephen As opinion?

[@IBlackSanta]

Why would anybody care about your opinion?

[@knoxmachinini4021]

He Has Influence. . We can’t deny Him!

[@jesisghimire7216]

@@IBlackSanta I never said anybody did….

[@Bryant_T]

Tatum needs to keep attacking the rim

[@goodymob9638]

💯

[@williedaviskcmo]

He’s unstoppable when he does consistently

[@goodymob9638]

He wouldn't be doing that if Ime was still there, Joe unfortunately believes in shooting all of those 3s. I'm a life long Celtic, and all of those 3s makes me cringe.

[@williedaviskcmo]

@@goodymob9638 yup exactly I hate his coaching style

[@goodymob9638]

@@williedaviskcmo exactly

[@cartoontaj]

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

[@UnconventionalReasoning]

Most of the regular panelists who were NBA players are busy today. Perk is at the Draft Lottery. RJ is calling games in the playoffs, as is Legler. Some probably said they wanted Mother's Day off.

[@UnfilteredThought]

That’s stupid. You can still be an expert on the matter without having played the game. It’s called studying.

[@cartoontaj]

@@UnfilteredThought Yea you can, but still have a couple of former players up their to get their perspective as a player in the game. They usually have that. And have one insider reporter. That's all. It's not that stupid.

[@gmbaguma288]

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

[@renardelliott4835]

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

[@clarkthesharkbjj]

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

[@philly2riches716]

ESPN so flip floppy

[@KL-fz1bh]

Facts

[@imyacc1842]

Great conversation! Tatum with a great professional answer!

[@hsplash8243]

That lavender suit is fire.

[@LXGlobalMedia]

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

[@Bars11_]

Well go look at those superstars with Kobe mindset.. dropping 40+ and 50 how their teams are doing now😂😂

[@BadmanMC407]

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

[@whatudoin1]

Stephen hiding behind Wilbon 😂. He was talking about you

[@macjones4497]

5:13 NO Diddy🤣🤣🤣

[@nocturne311]

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.

[@taylor7264]

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

[@isaiahyodaddygaming6588]

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

[@Kanotoa]

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

[@willwhite636]

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.

[@nicholasc6876]

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.

[@supernotnatural]

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

[@Godtier609]

An he made it too

[@MateMagyar88]

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

[@or3325]

What with the 360p?

[@Rileyrayshawn25]

Respect 🫡 on both sides

[@antghf]

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

[@UnconventionalReasoning]

Players *earn* the ring, none "deserve" it.

[@antghf]

@@UnconventionalReasoning i know that I’m just saying the way the east looks it would be easy for Boston.

[@UnconventionalReasoning]

@@antghf Yes, Tatum and everyone else (outside of NY, Indy, and Cleveland) know that they path is set up for the Celtics. All this talk is about whether or not they will let someone push them off the path.

[@4xsimms522]

Loll Jt dud say the press conference ppl too as well

[@BeJamin4321]

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.

[@donvolio4089]

Tatum is on that Butch Jones champions of life vibes

[@adrianlepe4563]

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

[@Iceman-xq9pe]

God I’m tired of the media

[@dtmaddenogz]

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. 💯

[@philb.1502]

He's got to get it done when he has the opportunity. You can't take it for granted that these opportunities will happen every year. The Celtics are in position to win the championship this year. They have to do it. Next year, someone blows their knee out or tears an Achilles and then the season is over.

[@donaldedwards3997]

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

[@MazevG]

Where did this narrative come from, just 3 years ago he had Tristian Thompson and Evan Fournier starting games

[@isaiahthomas4444]

Bro went to the ECF at 19 and the main option😂 Mfers just be talking

[@TheDdub2010]

A big reason they the best team his him though

[@luu7492]

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

[@TerrancePotts-ws3gy]

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!🍀💪😤

[@Godtier609]

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.

[@willcaron4972]

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

[@rishbademha]

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

[@thegoat2994]

Stephen a. Wow

[@FM_Chatti]

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!

[@harryegen1405]

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

[@MrTurner612]

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.

[@ydfash23]

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

[@Ysoserious1]

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

[@theopentoybox6084]

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….

[@Bars11_]

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.

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

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

[@jedimindtricks5713]

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.

[@jaypippen7213]

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

[@BizzyVM]

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.

[@yourefine9020]

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

[@0-Elias-0]

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.

[@TCrimson05t]

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.

[@Biz613]

What happened to Rachel Nichols?

[@fakedazzleful]

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

[@asylum1166]

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!!

[@youtubeconnollyfamily]

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.

[@johaniscasual6767]

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

[@eddy5097]

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

[@MihoyMinoy-si8fb]

Leave my girl Malika alone. She’s a certified baddie.

[@QuanPookie]

@@MihoyMinoy-si8fbI’m willing to bet you creep women out.

[@austinshannon4197]

Bill russell, NBA GOAT. 🧬🩻💊

[@JDC8792]

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

[@jesseperez6946]

lol he’s great in that side

[@101CamourTv]

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

[@IBlackSanta]

Whatever that means 😂

[@OnlyHTMRK]

He lead the league in Gatorade bottle delivered per minute.

[@jamesmanuel9909]

He averaged 1.5 ppg in college 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 but he talks with so much knowledge

[@KL-fz1bh]

Lol

[@992porter]

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

[@bradywatts6778]

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

[@keizzie8219]

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 🍷

[@sleeph.5664]

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

[@Big7wardnola]

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

[@philb.1502]

He's been first team All NBA for the last few years! All he needs to do is lead the team to the championship, and then the critics will finally give him his due. A championship always changes the perception of people. Ask KG, Pierce, Allen, and Rondo.

[@anthonyparson9566]

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

[@bmoney6939]

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

[@goodymob9638]

The media sets the narrative... period

[@Odhran2017]

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

[@UnrulyRebel-hd2pl]

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

[@terrancepotlow7712]

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

[@BratatoChip]

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

[@rickydiankulu2584]

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

[@Buglife59]

You can't please espn

[@Bb74086]

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.

[@matthewdunham1689]

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

[@gigiarcay]

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

[@kevinblack4357]

Just let him play basketball Media Beat Writer

[@Rob-ml3vl]

Stephen A doesn’t know about pressure since he’s never played at an elite level. But it’s all he ever talks about. Is it possible that he’s deferred a bit since others like White are playing so well? Is there really pressure while his team has been leading pretty much all playoffs?

[@anthonyabraham5454]

Celtics not giving Tatum 500mil contract to rebound and get assists. They paying him that to put the ball in the hole. So stop hiding from the moment and be the superstar you're suppose to be

[@backupdancer3720]

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

[@jazmin0412]

The glazing is insane

[@EmasurDaddy]

What’s glazing

[@kaysheye7784]

@@EmasurDaddy sucking up

[@Techtapp_]

Hairline crispy

[@JustS-oq6gf]

So now yall pointing the finger at the reporters and other players. Mann stfu yall TV heads love to spin a narrative. Y’all be coming at these players and talking out of both sides of y’all neck, just own it.

[@Sbock86]

Tatum is delusional. Nobody is expecting him to make every shot. Nobody is expecting him to win every game. However, he has been first team all NBA for the last couple of years AND his team has a 64-18 record and only lost 4 at home. Expecting him to play better and for the team to defend home court in the playoffs is not unreasonable.

[@patwalsh1045]

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

[@PuertoRicanSamurai]

You clearly don't watch Tatum 😂

[@justadownsouthtexasboy1259]

The Boston Celtics are the Dallas Cowboys of the NBA…