Small Forward Rankings. Butler, Pierce, PG13, Tatum

picc · Post #1 » by **picc** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:04 am

- Paul Pierce
- Paul George
- Jayson Tatum
- Jimmy Butler

How did these great small forwards rank in their peaks?

Bonus: Where's Scottie Pippen go in this?

Doranku · Post #2 » by **Doranku** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:09 am

Jimmy Buckets
Tatum
Paul Pierce

Playoff P

reload141 · Post #3 » by **reload141** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:13 am

Pierce
Butler
Tatum
Pandemic P

JimmyPlopper · Post #4 » by **JimmyPlopper** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:18 am

Butler
Pierce
Tatum
George

Pierce and Tatum to me are very close

picc · Post #5 » by **picc** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:24 am

reload141 wrote:Pierce
Butler
Tatum
Pandemic P

A celtics fan with Tatum third, didnt expect that but respect it.

TheGOATRises007 · Post #6 » by **TheGOATRises007** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:26 am

picc wrote:
reload141 wrote:Pierce
Butler
Tatum
Pandemic P

A celtics fan with Tatum third, didnt expect that but respect it.

Also wrong, because there's no shot whatsoever Pierce has the best peak.

TheGOATRises007 · Post #7 » by **TheGOATRises007** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:26 am

Butler/Tatum
Pierce
PG13

MavsDirk41 · Post #8 » by **MavsDirk41** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:27 am

Butler
Pierce
Tatum
George

Pippen would be below Butler

Maxthirty · Post #9 » by **Maxthirty** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:34 am

Paul Pierce is not better than Tatum…

LeBronSpaghetti · Post #10 » by **LeBronSpaghetti** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:37 am

Tatum
Pierce
Butler
George

azcatz11 · Post #11 » by **azcatz11** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 12:46 am

Pierce / Butler
Tatum

George

Jedi32 · Post #12 » by **Jedi32** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 1:21 am

Tatum
Butler
Pierce
PG13

reload141 · Post #13 » by **reload141** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 1:35 am

TheGOATRises007 wrote:
picc wrote:
reload141 wrote:Pierce
Butler
Tatum
Pandemic P

A celtics fan with Tatum third, didnt expect that but respect it.

Also wrong, because there's no shot whatsoever Pierce has the best peak.

It’s my personal opinion, so saying “wrong” is just starting your opinion

Warriorguy · Post #14 » by **Warriorguy** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 1:48 am

Butler carried teams past expected
Pierce
Tatum will be at top of this list next championship

George

Daddy 801 · Post #15 » by **Daddy 801** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 1:49 am

As of now

Pippen
Pierce
Tatum
Butler
PG

By careers end

Tatum
Pippen
Pierce
Butler
PG

brackdan70 · Post #16 » by **brackdan70** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 2:40 am

Two of these guys have been named to all NBA 1st teams. One once and the other guy 4 times.

2 of these players have won NBA titles.

The other player has put up exceptional impact numbers over his career.

It’s a good question to rate these 4.
Tatum is far an away above the others
I’d put Butler next followed closely by Pierce and the PG13

picc · Post #17 » by **picc** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 3:09 am

brackdan70 wrote:Two of these guys have been named to all NBA 1st teams. One once and the other guy 4 times.

2 of these players have won NBA titles.

The other player has put up exceptional impact numbers over his career.

It’s a good question to rate these 4.
Tatum is far an away above the others
I’d put Butler next followed closely by Pierce and the PG13

Far and away?

How far and how away?

redslastlaugh · Post #18 » by **redslastlaugh** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 3:37 am

Of the four, Tatum is the biggest, the best rebounder and the growth of his playmaking curve is the most impressive.
But JT also benefits a lot from the modern pace, Celtics coaching and shooting so many 3pters.

As a C's fan, if I was just comparing Pierce/Tatum, Tatum is better relative to his peer group and JT is better when considering both offense & defense
But, factoring for stylistic changes across eras, I think Pierce was a better scorer

brackdan70 wrote:Two of these guys have been named to all NBA 1st teams. One once and the other guy 4 times.

2 of these players have won NBA titles.

The other player has put up exceptional impact numbers over his career.

It’s a good question to rate these 4.
Tatum is far an away above the others
I’d put Butler next followed closely by Pierce and the PG13

XTC · Post #19 » by **XTC** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 3:43 am

I know it's easy to hate on Paul George but he had an amazing year in 18/19. #3 in MVP voting, All NBA 1st team, and All defensive 1st team. He was a legit two way monster that year. He's #2 on my list if we go by regular season only... however the playoffs do matter and he has had a tendency to disappear.

Butler clearly had the highest peak in 22/23, just a complete monster that year. Just a great all around player. Clearly #1 IMO.

02 Pierce vs 23 Tatum is tough, but I'm going to lean Tatum. He was a superior two way player, but Pierce wasn't a bad defender himself, and he was one of the most versatile scorers at the forward position. Both have championships, but the Celtics where clearly Tatum's team.

If we throw Pippen into this equation, hes clearly #1. His offensive ability + being the greatest perimeter defender in NBA history is hard to pass up on. 1994 Pippen was a complete monster.

1) Pippen
2) Butler
3) Tatum
4) Pierce
5) George

PRguy23 · Post #20 » by **PRguy23** » Tue Aug 12, 2025 3:49 am

picc wrote:- Paul Pierce
- Paul George
- Jayson Tatum
- Jimmy Butler

How did these great small forwards rank in their peaks?

Bonus: Where's Scottie Pippen go in this?

Pip is why chicago won vs Seattle and 2nd Jazz run. 1