Jayson Tatum Thread – (All-NBA Team, 2024)

[wco81]

Still a prime asset for a contender, years away from his athletic prime.

Celtics don’t even reach the Finals without him.

Remember earlier this season there was serious discussion, including on the Celtics forum, about splitting up Tatum and Brown because the Celtics hadn’t been able to break through?

They were the class of the EC which had all these legit Finals or title contenders.

I think Tatum got a taste of what Curry discovered in his first Finals where he faced much more physical defenses.

Look at all the scratches and cuts on Curry’s arms and shoulders. He still doesn’t get put on the line nearly as much as he should.

You can tell Tatum was bothered by how much more physical defenders were in this series.

Curry adjusted, got stronger in the upper body to finish better through contact and all the grabbing he faces. He still doesn’t have the FT rate he should but he’s found ways to be productive.

So Tatum has to make that adjustment too. It would help if the Celtics got him more off the ball looks so that more of his shots are assisted.

In his rookie year he was getting a lot of catch and shoot looks — so did Brown tHat year. Not saYing Kyrie is necessarily what the Celtics need because Scary Terry also probably got Tatum and Brown good looks that season too.

Of course Tatum and Brown both became good shot makers off the bounce, which earned them max extensions. But they have to diversify their bags.

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

He's paid too much to not be the alpha at all times.

It's a personality thing. He can't go there. He doesn't have that switch.

I’ve seen it at times, so we’ll have to agree to disagree. Time will tell.

One thing is for certain, if we have more dangerous shooters around him he’ll be doubled less and take advantage, or other teams will pay more for doubling.

He’s a hell of a player still young and getting better every year. I personally wouldn’t bet against him.

Not a whole lot of assets and cap for them to find these shooters.

Gonna be rough to get the guys help. Their defense brought them to the top of the mountain but their offense couldn't get them the throne.

But yes. Find the shooters.

I’m (maybe naively) optimistic.

We were around the tax line with ownership who have pledged to go deep into the tax for a contending team.

We have a $17m TPE with a coach and a young roster who many would now want to join.

Brad also has shown he won’t hold out for unicorn deals if improvement can be made.

[The Corey's]

I’ve seen it at times, so we’ll have to agree to disagree. Time will tell.

One thing is for certain, if we have more dangerous shooters around him he’ll be doubled less and take advantage, or other teams will pay more for doubling.

He’s a hell of a player still young and getting better every year. I personally wouldn’t bet against him.

Not a whole lot of assets and cap for them to find these shooters.

Gonna be rough to get the guys help. Their defense brought them to the top of the mountain but their offense couldn't get them the throne.

But yes. Find the shooters.

I’m (maybe naively) optimistic.

We were around the tax line with ownership who have pledged to go deep into the tax for a contending team.

We have a $17m TPE with a coach and a young roster who many would now want to join.

Brad also has shown he won’t hold out for unicorn deals if improvement can be made.

I think making the finals brought us into the tax? Which if they won great but now it makes things infinitely harder.

That 17.1 exception and I assume he's gonna move Horford but who knows. Brown/Tatum/Smart are obviously at this point untouchable.

Maybe he'll move White. I don't know.

The good thing is, this all gotta happen in the next 3 weeks.

[FlatearthZorro]

I think I'm closing the page on Tatum being better than Pierce for now. I think prime Pierce does WAY better. Tatum has a lots of work to do to be above Pierce in my book.

[poopship]

94 years old and still hasn't cleaned up his mistakes smdh

[ConstableGeneva]

Get a deeper bag. Longer range, floaters, use of backboard on his drives, getting off the floor (more vertical, less horizontal on drives), etc. And ffs, erase the Harden-style foul-baiting from his habits. Harden himself wasn't getting those calls in the playoffs.

EDIT: And off-ball stuff.

[MagicBagley18]

I'm just seeing a lot of excuses and d---riding for him. He has great skill, an extremely likable person off court, but we need to be real when he's not delivering on it. He's soft and does not have the killer mentality of the all-NBA level Celtics in his position before him, and it's costing the team in the end. Maybe he'll develop that, but it's looking dim right now.

Was he soft when he saved our season against the bucks with 46? This is such a ridiculous narrative this soft thing. Has he been good in the finals? No. He needs to be better. His shooting as sucked. He’s underwhelmed for sure.

But soft? Gtfo. If he was soft we wouldn’t even be in the finals- we would have been home 2 rounds ago. Killer mentality like which all nba level Celtic? Bird? so he’s not bird- fair enough.

Pierce? sorry but let me know when pierce was the best player on a team he led to the finals......I’ll wait. I love pierce - probably my favorite Celtic all time but Tatum is a 24 year old guy who needs to play better but he’s not soft.

Pierce was the leading scorer on two teams that went to the finals. Pierce and Garnett were interchangeable 1A/1B during those runs. If that had the “ECF MVP” back then, Pierce is probably looking at two ECF MVPs and a finals MVP on his resume.

A pre big 3 Pierce would make the finals with the 2022 Celtics as well. People are acting like this Celtics team wasnt stacked, and Tatum carried this team to the finals alone is crazy.

Williams
Hortford
Brown
Smart

That’s an insane supporting cast with 3 big time defensive players including the DPOY. That’s a better supporting cast than Pierce ever played with pre big 3 but leave it to a “Celtics fan” to tell you how Pierce couldn’t lead a team of bums to the finals.

This team isn’t stacked number 1....pierce also got ejected from a game 7 and showed up to the presser with a fake bandage on his head and showed huge signs of immaturity. If you think Pierce and kg were “interchangeable “ in 08’ and 10’ sorry but you don’t know basketball. Pierce was the scorer and the finisher but kg was the soul/the leader/ and the straw that stirred the drink on a team that was elite because of its defense.

Kg was the tone setter. I couldn’t give a **** about Tatum’s “eastern conference mvp” it means zero to me. Furthermore my point wasn’t that Pierce isn’t great my point is that Pierce showed moments also where he was questioned about his leadership, mentality and status as the face of the franchise etc.

And please gtfo of here saying this team is stacked lol......it’s a real good team who likely is home a month ago if Middleton is healthy. Again Pierce was never ever the best player on a finals team no matter how you twist your words like a pretzel.

Also you are questioning me being a Celtics fan? Who the **** ru- I’ve never seen you contribute one solid piece of anything here and this post didn’t help.

[BK_2020]

Stop texting Kobe, Jayson. He's dead.

[stepbackj34]

Was he soft when he saved our season against the bucks with 46? This is such a ridiculous narrative this soft thing. Has he been good in the finals? No. He needs to be better. His shooting as sucked. He’s underwhelmed for sure.

But soft? Gtfo. If he was soft we wouldn’t even be in the finals- we would have been home 2 rounds ago. Killer mentality like which all nba level Celtic? Bird? so he’s not bird- fair enough.

Pierce? sorry but let me know when pierce was the best player on a team he led to the finals......I’ll wait. I love pierce - probably my favorite Celtic all time but Tatum is a 24 year old guy who needs to play better but he’s not soft.

Pierce was the leading scorer on two teams that went to the finals. Pierce and Garnett were interchangeable 1A/1B during those runs. If that had the “ECF MVP” back then, Pierce is probably looking at two ECF MVPs and a finals MVP on his resume.

A pre big 3 Pierce would make the finals with the 2022 Celtics as well. People are acting like this Celtics team wasnt stacked, and Tatum carried this team to the finals alone is crazy.

Williams
Hortford
Brown
Smart

That’s an insane supporting cast with 3 big time defensive players including the DPOY. That’s a better supporting cast than Pierce ever played with pre big 3 but leave it to a “Celtics fan” to tell you how Pierce couldn’t lead a team of bums to the finals.

This team isn’t stacked number 1....pierce also got ejected from a game 7 and showed up to the presser with a fake bandage on his head and showed huge signs of immaturity. If you think Pierce and kg were “interchangeable “ in 08’ and 10’ sorry but you don’t know basketball. Pierce was the scorer and the finisher but kg was the soul/the leader/ and the straw that stirred the drink on a team that was elite because of its defense.

Kg was the tone setter. I couldn’t give a **** about Tatum’s “eastern conference mvp” it means zero to me. Furthermore my point wasn’t that Pierce isn’t great my point is that Pierce showed moments also where he was questioned about his leadership, mentality and status as the face of the franchise etc.

And please gtfo of here saying this team is stacked lol......it’s a real good team who likely is home a month ago if Middleton is healthy. Again Pierce was never ever the best player on a finals team no matter how you twist your words like a pretzel.

Also you are questioning me being a Celtics fan? Who the **** ru- I’ve never seen you contribute one solid piece of anything here and this post didn’t help.

Im trying to figure out which season of d-league level players the celtics had pre big 3 was Pierce suppose to take to the finals?

Garbage posting.

[MagicBagley18]

Pierce was the leading scorer on two teams that went to the finals. Pierce and Garnett were interchangeable 1A/1B during those runs. If that had the “ECF MVP” back then, Pierce is probably looking at two ECF MVPs and a finals MVP on his resume.

A pre big 3 Pierce would make the finals with the 2022 Celtics as well. People are acting like this Celtics team wasnt stacked, and Tatum carried this team to the finals alone is crazy.

Williams
Hortford
Brown
Smart

That’s an insane supporting cast with 3 big time defensive players including the DPOY. That’s a better supporting cast than Pierce ever played with pre big 3 but leave it to a “Celtics fan” to tell you how Pierce couldn’t lead a team of bums to the finals.

This team isn’t stacked number 1....pierce also got ejected from a game 7 and showed up to the presser with a fake bandage on his head and showed huge signs of immaturity. If you think Pierce and kg were “interchangeable “ in 08’ and 10’ sorry but you don’t know basketball. Pierce was the scorer and the finisher but kg was the soul/the leader/ and the straw that stirred the drink on a team that was elite because of its defense.

Kg was the tone setter. I couldn’t give a **** about Tatum’s “eastern conference mvp” it means zero to me. Furthermore my point wasn’t that Pierce isn’t great my point is that Pierce showed moments also where he was questioned about his leadership, mentality and status as the face of the franchise etc.

And please gtfo of here saying this team is stacked lol......it’s a real good team who likely is home a month ago if Middleton is healthy. Again Pierce was never ever the best player on a finals team no matter how you twist your words like a pretzel.

Also you are questioning me being a Celtics fan? Who the **** ru- I’ve never seen you contribute one solid piece of anything here and this post didn’t help.

Garbage posting.

Right....this team is stackedddddd lol that’s why it can only rely on 6-7 guys routinely. It’s a really good team with an elite level defense.

Talk about garbage posting.....lol

[MagicBagley18]

Pierce was the leading scorer on two teams that went to the finals. Pierce and Garnett were interchangeable 1A/1B during those runs. If that had the “ECF MVP” back then, Pierce is probably looking at two ECF MVPs and a finals MVP on his resume.

A pre big 3 Pierce would make the finals with the 2022 Celtics as well. People are acting like this Celtics team wasnt stacked, and Tatum carried this team to the finals alone is crazy.

Williams
Hortford
Brown
Smart

That’s an insane supporting cast with 3 big time defensive players including the DPOY. That’s a better supporting cast than Pierce ever played with pre big 3 but leave it to a “Celtics fan” to tell you how Pierce couldn’t lead a team of bums to the finals.

This team isn’t stacked number 1....pierce also got ejected from a game 7 and showed up to the presser with a fake bandage on his head and showed huge signs of immaturity. If you think Pierce and kg were “interchangeable “ in 08’ and 10’ sorry but you don’t know basketball. Pierce was the scorer and the finisher but kg was the soul/the leader/ and the straw that stirred the drink on a team that was elite because of its defense.

Kg was the tone setter. I couldn’t give a **** about Tatum’s “eastern conference mvp” it means zero to me. Furthermore my point wasn’t that Pierce isn’t great my point is that Pierce showed moments also where he was questioned about his leadership, mentality and status as the face of the franchise etc.

And please gtfo of here saying this team is stacked lol......it’s a real good team who likely is home a month ago if Middleton is healthy. Again Pierce was never ever the best player on a finals team no matter how you twist your words like a pretzel.

Also you are questioning me being a Celtics fan? Who the **** ru- I’ve never seen you contribute one solid piece of anything here and this post didn’t help.

Im trying to figure out which season of d-league level players the celtics had pre big 3 was Pierce suppose to take to the finals?

Garbage posting.

Again the point that went over your head is that Tatum at 24 is first team all nba....something pierce never was and unequivocally the best player on a finals team- again something pierce never was.

You are making this a knock on pierce because you likely still have his poster up in your room - when it’s more about how advanced Tatum is already at such an early age. Pierce is an all time great Celtic and a killer. Super clutch.

But Tatum is well ahead of him already and by the time he’s 30, 31,32, the age pierce was when he finally went on deep deep extended runs consistently this won’t even be a debate.

Tatum has to be better. Has to be. But he’s already ahead of the curve. Pierce was also questioned about his maturity leadership etc before kg and that’s exactly what I’m trying to remind people of.

[stepbackj34]

This team isn’t stacked number 1....pierce also got ejected from a game 7 and showed up to the presser with a fake bandage on his head and showed huge signs of immaturity. If you think Pierce and kg were “interchangeable “ in 08’ and 10’ sorry but you don’t know basketball. Pierce was the scorer and the finisher but kg was the soul/the leader/ and the straw that stirred the drink on a team that was elite because of its defense.

Kg was the tone setter. I couldn’t give a **** about Tatum’s “eastern conference mvp” it means zero to me. Furthermore my point wasn’t that Pierce isn’t great my point is that Pierce showed moments also where he was questioned about his leadership, mentality and status as the face of the franchise etc.

And please gtfo of here saying this team is stacked lol......it’s a real good team who likely is home a month ago if Middleton is healthy. Again Pierce was never ever the best player on a finals team no matter how you twist your words like a pretzel.

Also you are questioning me being a Celtics fan? Who the **** ru- I’ve never seen you contribute one solid piece of anything here and this post didn’t help.

Im trying to figure out which season of d-league level players the celtics had pre big 3 was Pierce suppose to take to the finals?

Garbage posting.

Again the point that went over your head is that Tatum at 24 is first team all nba....something pierce never was and unequivocally the best player on a finals team- again something pierce never was.

You are making this a knock on pierce because you likely still have his poster up in your room - when it’s more about how advanced Tatum is already at such an early age. Pierce is an all time great Celtic and a killer. Super clutch.

But Tatum is well ahead of him already and by the time he’s 30, 31,32, the age pierce was when he finally went on deep deep extended runs consistently this won’t even be a debate.

Tatum has to be better. Has to be. But he’s already ahead of the curve. Pierce was also questioned about his maturity leadership etc before kg and that’s exactly what I’m trying to remind people of.

Again, trash posting. The 22 Celtics “core”, or starting 5 were stacked whether you like it or not.

Smart-DOPY/All defensive 1st team
Brown- all star- top 5 SG- averaged 24/6/3 on 48/38 the last two seasons.
Hortford- Multi time all star vet big man, former all defensive team & all nba player
Williams- All defensive 2nd team-nearly averaged a double with 2 blocks per game

This is clearly better than any supporting cast Pierce had prior to the big 3 era.

2002-2007 Celtics opening day starting line-ups
Antoine Walker
Eric Williams
Kenny Anderson
Tony Battie

Walker
Eric Williams
Tony Delk
Tony Battie

Mike James
Vin Baker
Kendrick Brown
Mark Blount

Gary Payton
Ricky Davis
Mari Blount
Raef Lafrentz

Delonte West
Ricky Davis
Mark Blount
Raef Lafrentz

Telfair
Delonte West
Schzbiak
Kendrick Perkins

Forget Tatum, what player is carrying any of these roster to the finals in place of Pierce? Jordan? Kobe? Lebron?

Try being “unequivocally” the best player on a team full of D-League level players and see how deep you go in the playoffs.

And enough with this first team nonsense. Tatum would never make 1st team in the 00s or 10s. Or do you believe he would make 1st team over PRIME Duncan, Garnett, Dirk, Bron & KD?

[Kaykoose]

I'm confused on how Pierce came up in this discussion but I'll bite.

24 year old Pierce and Tatum don't play the same. That Pierce isn't going to struggle backing down Curry or blowing by Looney on switches. That Pierce isn't going to repeatedly blow paint shots by going in soft. And when he is struggling, you can guarantee Pierce is going impose his will and shoot 10 FTs. Tatum is taller and a better shooter and that's where it stops. I don't see how you could watch this Finals and still think Tatum is better than Pierce ever was. That was a false narrative from the beginning.

No slight to Tatum who is a legitimate all star player, but he isn't who y'all think he is just yet. Doesn't take away from the great start to his career though.

[BK_2020]

I'm confused on how Pierce came up in this discussion but I'll bite.

24 year old Pierce and Tatum don't play the same. That Pierce isn't going to struggle backing down Curry or blowing by Looney on switches. That Pierce isn't going to repeatedly blow paint shots by going in soft. And when he is struggling, you can guarantee Pierce is going impose his will and shoot 10 FTs. Tatum is taller and a better shooter and that's where it stops. I don't see how you could watch this Finals and still think Tatum is better than Pierce ever was. That was a false narrative from the beginning.

No slight to Tatum who is a legitimate all star player, but he isn't who y'all think he is just yet. Doesn't take away from the great start to his career though.

24 year old Pierce was 5-16 for 14 points in the elimination game 6 of the ECF and shot 50% from the line. He shot 4 free throws.

[stepbackj34]

I'm confused on how Pierce came up in this discussion but I'll bite.

24 year old Pierce and Tatum don't play the same. That Pierce isn't going to struggle backing down Curry or blowing by Looney on switches. That Pierce isn't going to repeatedly blow paint shots by going in soft. And when he is struggling, you can guarantee Pierce is going impose his will and shoot 10 FTs. Tatum is taller and a better shooter and that's where it stops. I don't see how you could watch this Finals and still think Tatum is better than Pierce ever was. That was a false narrative from the beginning.

No slight to Tatum who is a legitimate all star player, but he isn't who y'all think he is just yet. Doesn't take away from the great start to his career though.

I dont think Tatum is better than Pierce ever was(yet) but..

Im more confused on how so called certain celtics fans forget the dreadful talent that were on the Celtics in the 00s. Who is carrying those teams to the finals? Smh

[stepbackj34]

I'm confused on how Pierce came up in this discussion but I'll bite.

24 year old Pierce and Tatum don't play the same. That Pierce isn't going to struggle backing down Curry or blowing by Looney on switches. That Pierce isn't going to repeatedly blow paint shots by going in soft. And when he is struggling, you can guarantee Pierce is going impose his will and shoot 10 FTs. Tatum is taller and a better shooter and that's where it stops. I don't see how you could watch this Finals and still think Tatum is better than Pierce ever was. That was a false narrative from the beginning.

No slight to Tatum who is a legitimate all star player, but he isn't who y'all think he is just yet. Doesn't take away from the great start to his career though.

24 year old Pierce was 5-16 for 14 points in the elimination game 6 of the ECF and shot 50% from the line. He shot 4 free throws.

Are you saying that 24/YO Tatum would take the 2002 celtics to the finals?

[BK_2020]

I'm confused on how Pierce came up in this discussion but I'll bite.

24 year old Pierce and Tatum don't play the same. That Pierce isn't going to struggle backing down Curry or blowing by Looney on switches. That Pierce isn't going to repeatedly blow paint shots by going in soft. And when he is struggling, you can guarantee Pierce is going impose his will and shoot 10 FTs. Tatum is taller and a better shooter and that's where it stops. I don't see how you could watch this Finals and still think Tatum is better than Pierce ever was. That was a false narrative from the beginning.

No slight to Tatum who is a legitimate all star player, but he isn't who y'all think he is just yet. Doesn't take away from the great start to his career though.

I dont think Tatum is better than Pierce ever was(yet) but..

Im more confused on how so called certain celtics fans forget the dreadful talent that were on the Celtics in the 00s. Who is carrying those teams to the finals? Smh

Those Celtics teams were not dreadful outside of Pierce. Delk, Rodney Rogers, Battie, Walter, Eric Williams, etc. were athletic players with length that fit Jim O'Brien's system very well. Kenny Anderson was a solid PG who took care of the ball. 'Toine was a chucker but so was Pierce in that ECF run (.510 TS% to .529 TS%).

[pac213up]

24 year old #1 stars do not lead their teams to titles historically. The game looked faster than he was ready for during the Finals. He is incredibly gifted, especially with very average athleticism. Needs to work on being able to finish with the left and getting to high % spots. Team needs to have a reliable back up PG that can create. Tatum has improved tremendously there but it is not a a strength. Speaking of strength, he needs to continue to get stronger. I expect a massive season from him next year.

[MagicBagley18]

Im trying to figure out which season of d-league level players the celtics had pre big 3 was Pierce suppose to take to the finals?

Garbage posting.

Again the point that went over your head is that Tatum at 24 is first team all nba....something pierce never was and unequivocally the best player on a finals team- again something pierce never was.

You are making this a knock on pierce because you likely still have his poster up in your room - when it’s more about how advanced Tatum is already at such an early age. Pierce is an all time great Celtic and a killer. Super clutch.

But Tatum is well ahead of him already and by the time he’s 30, 31,32, the age pierce was when he finally went on deep deep extended runs consistently this won’t even be a debate.

Tatum has to be better. Has to be. But he’s already ahead of the curve. Pierce was also questioned about his maturity leadership etc before kg and that’s exactly what I’m trying to remind people of.

Again, trash posting. The 22 Celtics “core”, or starting 5 were stacked whether you like it or not.

Smart-DOPY/All defensive 1st team
Brown- all star- top 5 SG- averaged 24/6/3 on 48/38 the last two seasons.
Hortford- Multi time all star vet big man, former all defensive team & all nba player
Williams- All defensive 2nd team-nearly averaged a double with 2 blocks per game

This is clearly better than any supporting cast Pierce had prior to the big 3 era.

2002-2007 Celtics opening day starting line-ups
Antoine Walker
Eric Williams
Kenny Anderson
Tony Battie

Walker
Eric Williams
Tony Delk
Tony Battie

Mike James
Vin Baker
Kendrick Brown
Mark Blount

Gary Payton
Ricky Davis
Mari Blount
Raef Lafrentz

Delonte West
Ricky Davis
Mark Blount
Raef Lafrentz

Telfair
Delonte West
Schzbiak
Kendrick Perkins

Forget Tatum, what player is carrying any of these roster to the finals in place of Pierce? Jordan? Kobe? Lebron?

Try being “unequivocally” the best player on a team full of D-League level players and see how deep you go in the playoffs.

And enough with this first team nonsense. Tatum would never make 1st team in the 00s or 10s. Or do you believe he would make 1st team over PRIME Duncan, Garnett, Dirk, Bron & KD?

You completely just don’t understand the point....another poster brought up Tatum in relation to other all nba level Celtics. Clearly he’s not bird. So the next logical wing is Pierce. brought up all of pierces criticism’s pre title as a comparison for those saying Tatum can’t be the guy or can’t get it done- it’s actually a compliment to Pierce while also reminding everyone how great Tatum has been so young.

It’s clear you are just a Pierce homer, which I get as I was and am too but I can also realize how good Tatum is. Pierce was never ever unquestionably the best player on a finals team. That’s just facts. He also was never first team all nba. Again facts. He only made second team once. That said he’s an all time great legend who I’m glad I got to see play at his peak and all time great celtic. Top 50 ever. Go see the rarified air Tatum is in already compared to other legends.

This team isn’t stacked at all.....lol. U wanna say it’s better than any roster pre big 3 Pierce had? Ok...it still doesn’t change the fact again that Pierce was never ever ever unquestioned the best player on a finals team. This team is home for a month already if Middleton is healthy.

It’s a really good team. Real good starting 5. Not stacked at allllllllllllllllllllll. They went 8 deep in the finals and the bench suckeddddd. A major reason they are in the finals is because of Tatum’s performance in previous series. Now Tatum has to be much much better on the biggest stages like the finals- and would I love him having some of pierces swag and balls? Sure. but just because you love Pierce doesn’t mean you are correct.

Team is a good team. Ain’t stacked. And again post all the rosters you want.....Pierce never was the best player without a doubt on those finals teams.

[Kaykoose]

I'm confused on how Pierce came up in this discussion but I'll bite.

24 year old Pierce and Tatum don't play the same. That Pierce isn't going to struggle backing down Curry or blowing by Looney on switches. That Pierce isn't going to repeatedly blow paint shots by going in soft. And when he is struggling, you can guarantee Pierce is going impose his will and shoot 10 FTs. Tatum is taller and a better shooter and that's where it stops. I don't see how you could watch this Finals and still think Tatum is better than Pierce ever was. That was a false narrative from the beginning.

No slight to Tatum who is a legitimate all star player, but he isn't who y'all think he is just yet. Doesn't take away from the great start to his career though.

24 year old Pierce was 5-16 for 14 points in the elimination game 6 of the ECF and shot 50% from the line. He shot 4 free throws.

Yeah that's a nasty game from Pierce and hurts my FT point in particular but doesn't change my argument. Tatum isn't better than Pierce was, let alone a legitimate superstar.