Game on the line....who you got taking the last shot..prime Pierce or Tatum

[fallguy]

Pierce with Brad Stevens designing the play.

[Fierce1]

My top 3 favorite Celtic players:

1. Bird
2. Tatum
3. Pierce

In this case, I choose Pierce over Tatum.

But this can change 3-4 years from now.

Tatum just has more potential because he's taller and more athletic than Pierce.

But Pierce's bball IQ is way higher than Tatum's.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

The American public obsession with who takes the last shot is borderline unhealthy. How about playing better through the first 47 minutes and 50 seconds so you don't have to rely on a low percentage chuck to win the game ?

[Shamrock23]

Tatum? April Fools stiil? Lol

[return2glory]

Anyone but choker Tatum. I've said for years I don't want him near the ball in close games.

He also doesn't come up big in some big games.

Take the most recent series vs the Knicks. Choker Tatum and coach Joe handed the Knicks the series.

Game 1: Tatum goes for 7-23 shooting
Game 2: He shot 5-19.

Series was over after game 2, way before his injury.

Brown, White and Jrue carries us during the championship season. Over half the games, Tatum was our 3rd or 4th best player.

Tatum was great in the Orlando series. But his consistency for a so called superstar needs to get better. I'm glad he is on Boston. But without Brown, White and another legit player, we aren't winning another title. Jrue was the 4th guy in his 1st year and this year, we went from a borderline all-star to borderline starter. KP was a no show in both playoff years, so we need to move on from him.

[Dangit]

With out HESITATION Paul Pierce

[Lee Van Cleef]

Paul Pierce was the best closer I ever saw in Celtics jersey. It was so, because he had a reliable midrange game, with well-rehearsed moves. JT is a layup/3pt player. You cannot reliably close a game with those.

[Triple7]

Pierce and its not even close. JT doesn’t no what to do in end of games situation, but to chuck a 3. Just watch end of game 2 against the knicks will show you everything. Getting blocked trying to do a fade away on the side. If he developed any mid range game, he would have straight up shot it against Robinson. Instead, he tried to dribble to the side and put up a lousy shot that got blocked. PP would have made a shot in that instance.

[FlatearthZorro]

Paul Pierce was the best closer I ever saw in Celtics jersey. It was so, because he had a reliable midrange game, with well-rehearsed moves. JT is a layup/3pt player. You cannot reliably close a game with those.

He was an underrated passer for his position in that era too..

[31to6]

Pierce and its not even close. JT doesn’t no what to do in end of games situation, but to chuck a 3. Just watch end of game 2 against the knicks will show you everything. Getting blocked trying to do a fade away on the side. If he developed any mid range game, he would have straight up shot it against Robinson. Instead, he tried to dribble to the side and put up a lousy shot that got blocked. PP would have made a shot in that instance.

Not saying that possession went well or anything, but for the record JT wasn't even shooting that ball -- he was trying to pass it out to Jaylen. The rare 'blocked fadeaway pass'. Well -- he went up to shoot it, realize he hadn't cleared Robinson, and mid-air tried to pass it. CRIKEY that possession stunk. The pull-up spot looks like it was top of the key, but probably none of us would've liked that, either:)

https://www.nba.com/watch/video/the-knicks-great-defense-wins-them-game-2

Tatum's hit plenty of clutch shots, include mid-rangers. But the step-back 3 most times does make me die inside every time, even if he's chucked some in (including against TOR in OT this season, and that ridiculous one he banked in over Giannis a few years ago).

[FlatearthZorro]

I'm a big time JT guy for overall game, defensive and offensive versatility... but Pierce in the clutch has the edge:

Most Game Winners In NBA History
Player Number of Buzzer Beaters
Michael Jordan 9
Kobe Bryant 8
Joe Johnson 8
LeBron James 8
Paul Pierce 7
Andre Iguodala 5
Gilbert Arenas 5
Dwyane Wade 5
Vince Carter 5
Kevin Garnett 5

https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/nba/most-game-winners-in-nba-history-bm05/

I saw a stat a few years ago that PP was involved in the most points(assists + pts) in the last minute of a game in NBA history.
Definitely not gonna count on Tatum's stepback 3.

Oh and I will write this 20x. Pierce is still my fav player to ever to touch a basketball. The reason I started playing ball when I was 18(I'm 36 now) and I won 2 state championships. It would take something extremely special to replace Paul

edit: to clarify, I somehow got a passion for a game I never saw or played. I've always loved soccer(original football and I played for my school's team).

[JimmyFromNz]

Pierce without hesitation.

Beyond the statistics, theoretically both score at all 3 levels and have elite 1v1 games.

But the distinction is in the decision making. Pierce would consistently and assertively take the right shot against the right matchup. This would result in him nearly always finding his spot and never being sped up by the defender whilst doing it - even where the play breaks down.

Jayson has a lot more work to do in that space.

[celticgreenie]

Move on from Drew Hanlen and hire Pierce as Tatum's personal trainer.