ATL - Ham Slamwich to the Lakers

[Bucksmaniac]

Am I crazy for thinking Brown is better than Tatum?

I've always felt like Brown passed the eye test more for me and I've been saying this for the past 4 years.


But that was when I watched 5-10 Celtics games in a season. Watching probably 30+ Celtics games this season, Tatum is better.

Tatum sure has an awful lot of bad shooting games it seems, especially in Game 1s, reminds me a lot of Middleton in that regard.

[MikeIsGood]

Brown benefits from some of what Klay has benefited from for a long time, where as a secondary (or tertiary) option a ton of his bad performances are quickly forgotten or straight up ignored, but his explosive performances really stick in everyone’s minds.

Everyone remembers Klay’s 37 point quarter or game 6 against OKC but no one cares about him averaging 15 on terrible efficiency with a single digit PER for an entire playoff run. Think it’s been something similar with Brown where his explosive scoring quarters and athleticism really jump at you, but all the stretches where he legit can’t dribble or pass without turning it over are forgotten. I guess up until this year where it’s been more visible.

Tatum is a different tier player IMO, he’s knocking on the door of the truly elite top 5 tier. Its just that his lows are soooo low, which is why he isn’t there yet.

I agree other than that's exactly what Tatum isn't knocking on the door. His lows are D-tier. Roleplayer. He still has way too many duds for me to put him close to top 5.

Similar to how you talk about people forgetting Klay/Brown poor performances, I think the same is true often for Tatum. No one will remember his **** performance these playoffs if they win the 'chip.

Well I definitely think he was approaching or straight up was top 5 level during the regular season. Like I would’ve had him 4th for MVP this year.

Playoffs have shown he’s got work to do from a game to game consistency standpoint. I guess it depends on how we define “close to top 5”. Like I still think he’s top 10, just not exactly sure where in that 10. For an end to end playoff run I think I’d take the following guys over him in 2022, no particular order:

Giannis
Jokic
Healthy Embiid (Idc that I’m making excuses for him, I just think he’s insanely good and was clearly hampered by injuries this postseason)
Curry
Doncic
Jimmy
KD
Healthy LeBron (If you give LeBron this Celtics cast, a real shot at the title and a reason to give a ****, I’m still betting on LeBron)

So I’d have him 9th I guess? I’d say that’s close

Edit: forgot Kawhi, obviously if Kawhi is healthy Kawhi he’s in that very top tier.

You may be right. I'm not sure who else I'd put ahead of him right now. The other guys who would go ahead of him - Davis, Kawhi, maybe PG - have been injured or a mess the past year, too. It just seems on the "eye" test that Tatum's bad games are real bad comparatively to these other guys on the list - maybe Jimmy notwithstanding. He kinda did the opposite of Tatum, with more falters in the RS and then going out of his mind in the playoffs.

[paulpressey25]

You would think the Celtics overpowering the Warriors and (potentially) winning the title would make you feel better about the Bucks taking them to 7 and having multiple chances to win up the series while being down an all star, but it’s just more infuriating lol.

We’ll always be able to hold the Middleton thing over the C’s fans heads. Far more so than the Nets abuse we endured last year, because the Bucks were actual defending champions. Let’s have fun with it.

[greekbuck34]

The healthy Bucks are the best team in the NBA.

Tatum will be extremely overated after this season. In half of his post season games he is not even the 3rd best player on his team.
He is like Kyrie but with better defense. Superstar in a couple games and complete no factor in the rest.
Holford, Brown and Derrick White were the big 3 tonight.

[Plossum]

Lol Horford, White and Smart go 15/23 from three and that’s your game right there. Incredible shot making in the fourth. But no chance that happens again.

[Jez2983]

Lol Horford, White and Smart go 15/23 from three and that’s your game right there. Incredible shot making in the fourth. But no chance that happens again.

But maybe they don't have to. I don't think I've ever gone from one team to another as favourites in my head so quickly.

Basketball is wild these days.

[FlagsFlyForever]

If I'm Golden State, I'm feeling about as confident as is possible after a 12 point loss. Horford, Smart, and White are 33.6%, 33.1%, and 31.2% three point shooters this season respectively. Let them shoot 23 threes again next game.

[Plossum]

Lol Horford, White and Smart go 15/23 from three and that’s your game right there. Incredible shot making in the fourth. But no chance that happens again.

But maybe they don't have to. I don't think I've ever gone from one team to another as favourites in my head so quickly.

Basketball is wild these days.

Very true. Somewhat lost in this is Tatum’s poo poo platter of a game be served up. I doubt Horford, Smart and White are that good again but Tatum will be better too.

Feels a bit silly to say game 2 is a must win but the Warriors are pretty much gone if they go down 2-0 heading to Boston.

[BigO]

To those who predicted a short series dominated by Golden State, I hope you've come to your senses. This wasn't one of Boston's better defensive games and they still won. They did hold the Warriors to 16 points in the fourth quarter, when it counted.

As to Tatum's value, no way he is currently in the top 5 (10 or11 is about right). Because of what Boston is doing, people are trying to anoint the Celtics savior. But Boston is successful mainly because of their defense, not their offense. They are one of the few teams not driven by superstars. Good coaching and really good switchable defenders is their strength.

[RiotPunch]

If I'm Golden State, I'm feeling about as confident as is possible after a 12 point loss. Horford, Smart, and White are 33.6%, 33.1%, and 31.2% three point shooters this season respectively. Let them shoot 23 threes again next game.

Horford is 43% from three this playoffs. I would not let him continue to shoot with volume, he's locked in. White has been getting hot at the right time, but yeah you can mostly let him and Smart try to beat you from three and live with the results.

On the flip side Boston is daring Dray to take threes and he took the bait. A vet like him should be smarter than that.

[Jez2983]

To those who predicted a short series dominated by Golden State, I hope you've come to your senses. This wasn't one of Boston's better defensive games and they still won. They did hold the Warriors to 16 points in the fourth quarter, when it counted.

As to Tatum's value, no way he is currently in the top 5 (10 or11 is about right). Because of what Boston is doing, people are trying to anoint the Celtics savior. But Boston is successful mainly because of their defense, not their offense. They are one of the few teams not driven by superstars. Good coaching and really good switchable defenders is their strength.

The entirety of this post is fairly insufferable, particularly after Boston scored 40 in the last quarter.

[Plossum]

Is Timelord what Donte was to us last year? He seems like a critical part of their success but tbh the Celts haven’t really missed a beat without him.

[tonyreyes123]

Lol @ people actually rooting for GS

[soxperry]

Lol @ people actually rooting for GS

The KD era is over. I respect the hell out of that team.

Boston has Grant Williams and Marcus Smart. How anyone outside of Boston could want those two to win a finals is beyond me.

[drew881]

Is Timelord what Donte was to us last year? He seems like a critical part of their success but tbh the Celts haven’t really missed a beat without him.

He looked good in Game I, so no. Donte didn’t come back to contribute for us.

[BucksFanSD]

I'm thinking Dray and Klay may lose the series for the Warriors. They look like overrated names at this point in their careers (post injuries for Klay). Draymond's offense looked brutal and did some dumb things on defense. I'm not sure Kerr can sub for them due to their reputations.

[raferfenix]

Horford playing the best ball of his career has been the difference for Boston.

Sure Tatum and Brown stepping up has mattered as well as the Celtics replacing Kemba and Schroder with stronger defenders.

But who predicted Al had this left in the tank? Man’s on a mission, and even if he were on roids, that doesn’t explain the shooting spree.

[BuckFan25226]

Kerr's lack of in game adjustments was insufferable to witness.

Ime was a damn genius.

Anytime you can activate the "On Fire" mode from NBA Jam in the NBA Finals is something have to just tip your cap to.

[Gant]

Is Timelord what Donte was to us last year? He seems like a critical part of their success but tbh the Celts haven’t really missed a beat without him.

Rob Williams being hobbled or out has curtailed the Celtics these playoffs. They've managed to win anyway, but he means so much to them healthy, and he's been a shadow of himself since his surgery.

The Bucks can rightly point to Middleton being out as a huge factor, but Rob Williams' injury is significantly hurting Boston as well. Before his injury he was that good on interior D, guarding the perimeter on switches, and with the lobs.

They wouldn't be in the finals though if he hasn't been playing through pain and giving them what he can.

[midranger]

Not so hot take: the Celtics don’t beat the Bucks if Robert Williams doesn’t get injured. Going 5 out was the key for that series. Williams was an anchor for them in our series.