2024 NBA Finals: The Stars Match-up (Doncic/Irving vs Tatum/Brown)

[Jaqua92]

Tatum and Brown have won the matchup..

Kyrie isn't even the 4th best player this series so far.

Doncic has been exploitable on defense. Tatum is shooting like **** and still is playing a great two way floor series. Brown is great too.

Without Doncic, the Mavs don't even have a roster as good as the Pistons. Of course every possession is going to be grueling. You put Luka on the Celtics instead of both Brown and Tatum and they still win easily. The surrounding roster plays a huge role in how well your best players can operate.

In fact I think the Celtics could have played all series without one of Brown or Tatum and still won. If the Mavs support players can't hit anything, they're not going anywhere.

Replace Tatum and Brown with Doncic and they absolutely do NOT win lol.

Luka does not provide more value scoring than two 25ppg players together. His lack of defense also becomes exploitable. Hell, replace just Tatum with him and they're a worst team

Is Doncic still a top 5 player? Yeah. But his lack of defense has killed his shot as "best in the world"

[shi-woo]

It's crazy to think that Tatum is only 1 year older than Luka. Really puts things into perspective to me, as Luka is getting all this "he's young, he'll figure it out" chatter, and Jayson is getting treated like prime LeBron. It's wild the difference in expectations and what we''ve expected from both him and Brown so early in their careers. Luka is getting his first taste of it, and man is it not pretty, and the Jay's were younger when it started than Luka is now.

I wonder if this is why Tatum plays more loosely on the road, because of the expectations of the fans. We've held this guy to the highest standard essentially since he was Ant's age, and has delivered more often than not. Taking this one home will be such a blessing for the Jay's, the pressure off their backs, that we might see them play their best ball next year.

Tatum last night was awesome, and when he plays like that he is unquestionably a superstar in this league.

Same with Brown, dude had 9 points again in the 4th last night and just kept making big play after big play, and has been a better player than Luka so far in these finals. It's been amazing to watch.

[Drakeem]

It's crazy to think that Tatum is only 1 year older than Luka. Really puts things into perspective to me, as Luka is getting all this "he's young, he'll figure it out" chatter, and Jayson is getting treated like prime LeBron. It's wild the difference in expectations and what we''ve expected from both him and Brown so early in their careers. Luka is getting his first taste of it, and man is it not pretty, and the Jay's were younger when it started than Luka is now.

I wonder if this is why Tatum plays more loosely on the road, because of the expectations of the fans. We've held this guy to the highest standard essentially since he was Ant's age, and has delivered more often than not. Taking this one home will be such a blessing for the Jay's, the pressure off their backs, that we might see them play their best ball next year.

Tatum last night was awesome, and when he plays like that he is unquestionably a superstar in this league.

Same with Brown, dude had 9 points again in the 4th last night and just kept making big play after big play, and has been a better player than Luka so far in these finals. It's been amazing to watch.

I mean, there's value to being exposed to success from your very first season. Age matters as far as physical ability, but age isn't indicative of experience. Someone can be 10-20 years older than someone else but can have much less expertise and experience to pull from if that younger person has had to go through a lot more.

So yes, it's a funny stat to look at just because of the words being used, but it's the same thing when they talk about Shai and Luka.

[50yrceltsfan]

Tatum and Brown have won the matchup..

Kyrie isn't even the 4th best player this series so far.

Doncic has been exploitable on defense. Tatum is shooting like **** and still is playing a great two way floor series. Brown is great too.

Without Doncic, the Mavs don't even have a roster as good as the Pistons. Of course every possession is going to be grueling. You put Luka on the Celtics instead of both Brown and Tatum and they still win easily. The surrounding roster plays a huge role in how well your best players can operate.

In fact I think the Celtics could have played all series without one of Brown or Tatum and still won. If the Mavs support players can't hit anything, they're not going anywhere.

Brad Stevens and Mazzula would want no part of Luka with the way he plays D. The best thing Stevens and Ainge have done is avoid all these prima-donna's, except the unfortunate episode with Kyrie (which tbh I think Kyrie has changed and I root for him now).

With Tatum and Brown, and the same with all the others they've acquired, every guy on that team has his head on straight. Humble, team oriented guys with great work ethic.

[durden_tyler]

Good take/explanation on the Celtics' star duo's dynamics and how it's been successful this season:

Jaylen Brown May Not Be the Celtics’ Best Player, but He Is Everything They Need

For two similarly sized forwards charting a course as teammates, every failure has invited thorough examination. And Brown and Tatum have failed plenty, often by falling just short—of the Finals, time and time again, and eventually of the title, after finally breaking through to the championship series in 2022. “Experience,” Brown said, “is the best teacher.” When the Celtics lost, it wasn’t just Tatum and Brown that came under fire, but the very concept of their partnership. It wasn’t always this smooth. Over the years, both had to learn how to play like stars without recentering the offense on themselves. And even when they did, they managed to inspire chatter over whether, given all their talents, they might be better off apart.

What that conversation usually missed (and what made Kidd’s comments so easy to swat away) is that it serves Boston’s interests when Brown plays like the best Celtic on the floor. Tatum is an immensely talented and versatile player with an adaptability to his game that has allowed Boston to make five conference finals runs in his seven seasons. He’s also the kind of superstar who needs a peer—whose game invites a costar like Brown to take the wheel.

All season long, opponents have challenged Brown and failed. They’ve challenged his skill, daring him to shoot from deep. They’ve sent extra bodies his way, challenging his judgment and his court vision. They’ve tried to live with switches that advantaged Brown but might take Boston out of its flow—challenging, among other things, his pride and restraint. Brown never really lost sight of the bigger picture. He isn’t perfect, and hasn’t been in these Finals. Yet as Boston’s other star—and maybe, on some nights, its best player—he has grown into this moment. You can see it in his evolving skill set, but even more in his focus. There is a clarity to the way Brown operates now, sharpened without losing the edge that makes him such a ferocious competitor in the first place.

“I like to pride myself that I always try to play with that fire and that passion,” Brown said. “I feel like that’s what makes me who I am: the essence of why I play and how I play. But my experiences—the heartbreaks, the losses—have all kind of cultivated into what you see now.”

Full article here: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/6/13/24177685/jaylen-brown-finals-mvp-boston-celtics-dunk-jayson-tatum

[KG Leonard]

It's crazy to think that Tatum is only 1 year older than Luka. Really puts things into perspective to me, as Luka is getting all this "he's young, he'll figure it out" chatter, and Jayson is getting treated like prime LeBron. It's wild the difference in expectations and what we''ve expected from both him and Brown so early in their careers. Luka is getting his first taste of it, and man is it not pretty, and the Jay's were younger when it started than Luka is now.

I think Luka should have been judged more critically earlier for a superstar like Embiid and co cause he has been in the league for almost 7 seasons, only one year after Tatum. Not only because they are almost the same age but because he was getting the Harden RS hype treatment, crazy usage/stats but his team was so bad they tanked last season. One decent playoffs run in 2022 and getting "acclaim" for healthy Kawhi exposing his defence years ago. While Tatum got dissed for losing to historical Steph Curry, Warriors in 2022 finals despite he has had 50 point 7 game performance and many big games like beating Giannis, the Champions Bucks in game 6 away in 2022.

Finally Luka, his lack of defence and meltdowns will be judged fairly like every superstars that had bad games in important playoffs series. Not only Tatum at 22 being judged harshly for not beating Miami in conference finals in 2020. Luka isn't young star no more expectations wise.

[Revived]

Tatum and Brown have won the matchup..

Kyrie isn't even the 4th best player this series so far.

Doncic has been exploitable on defense. Tatum is shooting like **** and still is playing a great two way floor series. Brown is great too.

Without Doncic, the Mavs don't even have a roster as good as the Pistons. Of course every possession is going to be grueling. You put Luka on the Celtics instead of both Brown and Tatum and they still win easily. The surrounding roster plays a huge role in how well your best players can operate.

In fact I think the Celtics could have played all series without one of Brown or Tatum and still won. If the Mavs support players can't hit anything, they're not going anywhere.

Replace Tatum and Brown with Doncic and they absolutely do NOT win lol.

Luka does not provide more value scoring than two 25ppg players together. His lack of defense also becomes exploitable. Hell, replace just Tatum with him and they're a worst team

Is Doncic still a top 5 player? Yeah. But his lack of defense has killed his shot as "best in the world"

Replace Tatum with Luka and Boston’s a worse team? You can’t be serious.

Yeah Luka’s defense is far worse but this is still a ludicrous comment.

[FlatearthZorro]

Without Doncic, the Mavs don't even have a roster as good as the Pistons. Of course every possession is going to be grueling. You put Luka on the Celtics instead of both Brown and Tatum and they still win easily. The surrounding roster plays a huge role in how well your best players can operate.

In fact I think the Celtics could have played all series without one of Brown or Tatum and still won. If the Mavs support players can't hit anything, they're not going anywhere.

Replace Tatum and Brown with Doncic and they absolutely do NOT win lol.

Luka does not provide more value scoring than two 25ppg players together. His lack of defense also becomes exploitable. Hell, replace just Tatum with him and they're a worst team

Is Doncic still a top 5 player? Yeah. But his lack of defense has killed his shot as "best in the world"

Replace Tatum with Luka and Boston’s a worse team? You can’t be serious.

Yeah Luka’s defense is far worse but this is still a ludicrous comment.

Tatum is an all-nba defender, Luka is a stop sign. I'm afraid you do not understand basketball.

[brackdan70]

Without Doncic, the Mavs don't even have a roster as good as the Pistons. Of course every possession is going to be grueling. You put Luka on the Celtics instead of both Brown and Tatum and they still win easily. The surrounding roster plays a huge role in how well your best players can operate.

In fact I think the Celtics could have played all series without one of Brown or Tatum and still won. If the Mavs support players can't hit anything, they're not going anywhere.

Replace Tatum and Brown with Doncic and they absolutely do NOT win lol.

Luka does not provide more value scoring than two 25ppg players together. His lack of defense also becomes exploitable. Hell, replace just Tatum with him and they're a worst team

Is Doncic still a top 5 player? Yeah. But his lack of defense has killed his shot as "best in the world"

Replace Tatum with Luka and Boston’s a worse team? You can’t be serious.

Yeah Luka’s defense is far worse but this is still a ludicrous comment.

Lukas game just doesn’t fit with Bostons team as they are made up. I don’t think Luka replacing Tatum makes them better either.
Both can be true Luka is a better player than Tatum, but a swap wouldn’t make the Celtics better. Now swapping both Tatum and brown for Luka makes them a much worse team.

[Larry_Russell]

through first 3 games

Tatum and Brown
46ppg
14.7rpg,
13apg
2.7spg
1.6bpg

Luka and Kyrie
50.7ppg
11.7rpg
9.3apg
3spg
0bpg

So Luka and Kyrie are leading in scoring and steals per, foul outs and whinging to the refs


Tatum and Brown are leading in rebounds, assists, blocks per and more importantly WINS.

[bigboi]

I need a Tatum and Brown 40 point game just to embarrass Luka and Kyrie. Then I can be happy af. Tatum will have outplayed Luka. Brown will have been best player on the series. Kyrie and Luka get exposed as overrated. Start of Celtics dynasties. Won’t hear the end from me

[bigboi]

through first 3 games

Tatum and Brown
46ppg
14.7rpg,
13apg
2.7spg
1.6bpg

Luka and Kyrie
50.7ppg
11.7rpg
9.3apg
3spg
0bpg

So Luka and Kyrie are leading in scoring and steals per, foul outs and whinging to the refs


Tatum and Brown are leading in rebounds, assists, blocks per and more importantly WINS.

I need Jays to smoke them last game. I’m taking both of these dudes over Luka idc anymore. The underrating stops tonight

[bigboi]

Read on Twitter

B b but you’re a troll. Ok buddy

[EmperorLocky]

Don't even know who you are. But congrats.

[Black Jack]

Cousy still dissing players is fantastic

we need a full Cousy rundown full of critiques of active players

[ballzboyee]

Tatum shooting 35% from the field. Dude, those that live in glass houses. Boston is just the overall better team. Kyrie on Boston would still be their best offensive player by a mile.

[D.Brasco]

Cousy still dissing players is fantastic

we need a full Cousy rundown full of critiques of active players

Multi-generational hater. He probably called Jerry West a young punk at some point.

[Black Jack]

Cousy still dissing players is fantastic

we need a full Cousy rundown full of critiques of active players

Multi-generational hater. He probably called Jerry West a young punk at some point.

It's 2024, Cousy played 1950-62*. Being alive and lucid enough to talk isht still about active players is a major flex.

* very odd looking at his B-R that he came back for one year in 69-70 for 7 games!

[bledredwine]

Jason Tatum has been a remarkable top five player in the league with 22 and 8 on .349 from the field. He really controls the game.

Every year I repeat myself.

If he is considered Boston’s first option, then he’s one of the worst in NBA finals history.

[Fencer reregistered]

Cousy still dissing players is fantastic

we need a full Cousy rundown full of critiques of active players

Multi-generational hater. He probably called Jerry West a young punk at some point.

It's 2024, Cousy played 1950-62*. Being alive and lucid enough to talk isht still about active players is a major flex.

* very odd looking at his B-R that he came back for one year in 69-70 for 7 games!

I believe he suited up for a team he was coaching.