Tatum VS Luka

[timani]

Tough one ... on paper you would think Luka is better, but the game is played on both sides and Tatum is developing into amazing two way player. I don't think Luka will ever get to the level Tatum is at the defensive end, but I think Tatum can get close to the level Luka is at the offensive end.

Tatum can go to 8-9 APG?

Tatum got to 7 or more assists 13 times this season. Luka did that 48 times. Luka's playmaking and control of the offense is being grossly underrated here. Like, underrated by a lot.

[timani]

Tatum is a good bball player ,he push and he carry the ball a lot but he is a pure scorer ,
Luka is a lazy flopper with talent who will destroy mavs.

I know he keeps destroying the Bucks...wasn't aware of him destroying the Mavs. Please share all the news about that happening because I'd be really interested in reading about that.

[username_taken]

I think Luka is the more talented player but their impact in the playoffs/when it matters is pretty similar

[Perseus1966]

Tatum is a good bball player ,he push and he carry the ball a lot but he is a pure scorer ,
Luka is a lazy flopper with talent who will destroy mavs.

I know he keeps destroying the Bucks...wasn't aware of him destroying the Mavs. Please share all the news about that happening because I'd be really interested in reading about that.

First round exit thats your destiny

[Ill News]

Um, I think the playmaking gap is smaller than the defensive gap, so I’ll go Tatum. But there’s no wrong answer here, they both look like they will be in the MVP race every season for the next however many years.

Tatum just played insane defense on KD for 150 possessions, and still averaged 30/5/7 on a 62% TS. Obviously he got plenty of help defensively, but he was the guy who did the brunt of it.

And in a series where they swept but won only by a total of 18 points or whatever, dude had a TS of 75% in the 4th quarter of the games, that’s beyond big time.

Take it from our most level-headed Tatum fanatic. This is the correct answer

Honestly, it's really close, and I wouldn't mind people arguing for either of them. But Tatum is growing into one of the best two-way players in the league; his defense on KD this series has been eye-opening for casual fans, but we C's fans have long known his defense is terrific. That's his clear advantage over Luka, whose advantage over Tatum is playmaking but Tatum blossomed in that area this season as well. So Comedian's right in saying the playmaking gap is smaller than the defensive gap.

I'm personally going Tatum because that's my boy, but I'm not surprised that most posters here are still picking Luka.

[Yuri36]

Um, I think the playmaking gap is smaller than the defensive gap, so I’ll go Tatum. But there’s no wrong answer here, they both look like they will be in the MVP race every season for the next however many years.

Tatum just played insane defense on KD for 150 possessions, and still averaged 30/5/7 on a 62% TS. Obviously he got plenty of help defensively, but he was the guy who did the brunt of it.

And in a series where they swept but won only by a total of 18 points or whatever, dude had a TS of 75% in the 4th quarter of the games, that’s beyond big time.

Take it from our most level-headed Tatum fanatic. This is the correct answer

Honestly, it's really close, and I wouldn't mind people arguing for either of them. But Tatum is growing into one of the best two-way players in the league; his defense on KD this series has been eye-opening for casual fans, but we C's fans have long known his defense is terrific. That's his clear advantage over Luka, whose advantage over Tatum is playmaking but Tatum blossomed in that area this season as well. So Comedian's right in saying the playmaking gap is smaller than the defensive gap.

I'm personally going Tatum because that's my boy, but I'm not surprised that most posters here are still picking Luka.

With all respect, I would say he is wrong.
Luka's playmaking, vision and passing are basically all time level, Tatum is not even remotely close to that level in those areas, at least so far in their careers anyway.

[Yuri36]

Luka still has the edge on JT, as I think he's a tad more talented but I honestly believe Tatum works harder than him and kind of "wants it" more than him.

Luka's pretty commonly out of shape and somewhat injury prone - I wouldn't be mad if that's enough for folks to side with Tatum.

Genetics might also help though as I think that considering the way their bodies are built, even if he took off seasons as lightly as Luka,JayTat would still probably be in far better shape and gain much less fat than Luka.

[Goon]

I’m here for all those Luka homers that are gonna say “ITS LUKA AND ITS NOT EVEN CLOSE”

Last thread that was made about this you had people saying Luka is equivalent to Jokic while Tatum is equivalent to Vucevic

Give me Tatum for this season and moving forward. Can play elite defense, and has stamina to play 45+ minutes. You all had a nice close up of Tatum’s passing which has gotten a lot better so he doesn’t really have any flaws in his game at this point, can only improve in areas. I think it’s close and don’t mind anyone who says Luka but anyone who says Luka is way better as if he’s prime Jordan right now are ridiculous

Got one already for you.

Luka by a mile

Got one for you.

Tatum easy

[Zespetjest]

We’ll see in the finals who is better.

[sasquatchBob]

I just really don't like watching Luka play (dribbling 80% of the possessions), so I'll go with Tatum who also has elite defense.

[Statlanta]

I'm going with Luka. The series matchups between BOS vs. DAL established the hierarchy quite clearly, unless you are truly faithful in post-January Tatum.

[Michaellam1987]

Let's hope BOS and DAL both advance to the final and fight for his first championship, then we will know the answer.

[AussieRules]

I’ll get roasted for this. But you’d have to insert Brandon Ingram into this conversation if we’re going by this years playoffs so far

I voted Tatum in the poll, even tho my head tells me Luka.

[Johnny Firpo]

Here is what I've arrived to. Playoff Luka could be further away from Tatum than we might currently think, but that's still a small sample size for him, only 15 games. And, well, Tatum's playoff averages/efficiency are kind of brought down by his earlier games, where he clearly wasn't this player yet. So, I guess what we have to state that it is not clear yet, but based on what I have seen from both, I think that we should be leaning toward Luka in most scenarios, and if I would have to guess, I would say Doncic will be ranked higher when it's all said and done. Both are clearly the best U25 players in the league and I think in a tier of their own.

[Pumpkin17]

I think they are my two favorite players at the moment, cannot decide who is better but we are lucky they are in opposite conferences.

Every great one needs a rival to truly shine, personally hoping for several years of finals between them

[DCasey91]

Big fan of both and and how with great Tatum is I’m still going Luka comfortably.

All things being equal the Celtics list is very very good.

It took Kidd out of all people to pair Brunson with Luka and I suspect Carlisle has been overrated as a coach for awhile because that was the Mav’s biggest problem all along (No one besides Luka could actually dribble the ball lmao) and the answer was right there the whole time. Dinwiddie is handy too

Player vs player can be hard if they are very close to each other from stats to impact metrics spotty or otherwise.

But damn Luka on the Celtics? Yeesh. (Had the Celtics as my dark horse anyway before the season started and nothing has changed on that).

The great irony in all of this is Bum Simmons is literally kryptonite to both players. Probably the most flawed player today has blanketed both one more than one occasion. (Kills Luka for some reason lol).

[Oscar9992]

Here is what I've arrived to. Playoff Luka could be further away from Tatum than we might currently think, but that's still a small sample size for him, only 15 games. And, well, Tatum's playoff averages/efficiency are kind of brought down by his earlier games, where he clearly wasn't this player yet. So, I guess what we have to state that it is not clear yet, but based on what I have seen from both, I think that we should be leaning toward Luka in most scenarios, and if I would have to guess, I would say Doncic will be ranked higher when it's all said and done. Both are clearly the best U25 players in the league and I think in a tier of their own.

I would also put Booker there too honestly, he is quite underrated by some. Dude just won 64 games with Suns missing CP3 most of the regular season. And Suns are now struggling against worst team in the Playoffs without him.

[Archx]

Tatum is a good bball player ,he push and he carry the ball a lot but he is a pure scorer ,
Luka is a lazy flopper with talent who will destroy mavs.

Playoffs... Jazz Nr 1 offense, 9th defense.... Nets 11th offense / 19th defense

Luka FTrate = 37% career = 36%
Tatum FTrate= 48% career = 37%

Luka 31.5/11.5/4.5 63% TS... 14 BPM... On/Off +27 .. (career +20.3) 109 ORTG / 101 DRTG
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tatum 29.5/4.5/7 62% TS.... 5 BPM ... On/Off +20.. (career +6) 118 ORTG / 116 DRTG

Yes, Luka should be traded to China i guess, he's so bad and much worse than Tatum in playoffs.

[rapstarter]

I do feel like if Doncic and Tatum swapped places, Boston would be an overwhelming favorites for the title whereas the Mavs won't be as good.

[Dirk]

Luka has done some really bad things to the Celtics on multiple occasions.

Tatum didn't look like he was on the same level.

These are Luka's numbers against the Celtics:

7 games

27.7pts - 7.1rbs - 6.7 asts
.692 TS%

Multiple daggers.