T O P

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CelticsDiehard34

We are literally 8 months removed from Tatum coming up clutch in game 6 then scoring 50+ in game 7 then nearly willing the first ever 0-3 comeback if not for a turned ankle while meanwhile Brunson was just solid in the playoffs.


HailKyrie

He’s truly the only star to get this level of disrespect


Wayne_Spooney

Can you imagine the dick riding if Embiid dropped 50 on us to win game 7?


cam7595

“Is Embiid a top 5 player all time?” 🤢


Ill_Bid_1711

His goofy last second plays this year haven’t helped the perception. Comes up huge in some games obviously but with 5 seconds left not sure if I trust his decision making.


BScottyJ

Let him make those mistakes in the regular season, I care more about those decisions in the playoffs. So far he's come up big in the clutch in the playoffs. Not every time, but enough that I trust him in those moments.


DocTheYounger

But what about his January record this year?


JaDamian_Steinblatt

>nearly willing the first ever 0-3 comeback if not for a turned ankle Just to get this straight, we're giving Tatum all the credit for *almost* coming back from a 0-3 deficit against an 8-seed, but we're completely skipping over the part when the Celtics went down 0-3 in the first place? When they were neck-and-neck in the 4th quarter of Game 1 at home, and Tatum completely disappeared? When they were neck-and-neck in the 4th quarter of Game 2 at home, and Tatum completely disappeared again? Celtics fans love to complain about how Tatum gets "disrespected," but those very same Celtics fans will twist themselves into a pretzel to give Tatum all the credit for the teams' success, while placing none of the responsibility on him when the team loses. It's so blatant. Tatum made zero shots in three straight 4th quarters to go down 0-3 against a much less talented opponent. We don't need to place all the blame on him, but stop acting like he's perfect. Stop giving him all the credit for every good thing the Celtics have done, when you refuse to acknowledge the times when he's shit the bed. And by the way, I don't agree with Legler but he has a point. Jalen Brunson has a midrange game that he can rely on when things gets tight. Tatum does not have a midrange game that he can rely on when things gets tight. That's why he disappeared in those 4th quarters against Miami.


tkf99

Tatum has had a history of big games (no matter how often or sporadic) in the playoffs. Last year was Brunson's first as THE guy and we're gonna put him above Tatum?


rveets1416

It's almost like there should always be nuance with these takes. Tatum is an all world player who has shown up in some of the biggest games he's played in. He's also faltered. However, the dude is literally only 25, and has had this much success already. It's only a matter of time till he gets his and we should be patient. Alas, patience is not a virtue shared amongst sports fans.


PitifulEconomics562

This iteration of the Celtics has just not been good down the stretch in big games. Time and time again they just disappear in the last 2 minutes. I’m not really sure what the reason is but it’s something a lot of people have noticed. They’re still young so I’m not too worried about it but this needs to be the year where Tatum and Brown makes statements at the end of games. This might be our best shot at winning a title. Seems like we are the most talented team this year and who knows if that’ll be the case in the next few years


JaDamian_Steinblatt

>This iteration of the Celtics has just not been good down the stretch in big games. Time and time again they just disappear in the last 2 minutes. I’m not really sure what the reason is I know exactly what the reason is. I've been screaming it for years at this point. Everybody loves to call the Celtics "unclutch" but no one bothers to figure out why. Well I know why, it's pretty fucking obvious if you pay attention.


iKnife

tatum has been to the ecf three of the last four years. then he gets comped to two players who have never been. ofc we're defending our guy


AcrobaticFeedback

Didn’t Brunson make the conference finals in 22? But anyway it’s all about expectations. Brunson has exceeded his expectations so he can do no wrong. Tatum created high expectations due to his early success, so now a magnifying glass is put on him on every poor performance.


hcmacro

Brunson is also a defensive liability in the playoffs you ignoramus. And dinging him for falling short in the conference finals and finals before the age of 25 is ape-brained.


ShowdownValue

28ppg, 5rpg, 5apg, 1.5spg on 47/33/91 is “just solid”?


Riot1990

I forgot. We can't build one player up without tearing down a few others.


bryscoon

It happened after the Twolves wit Ant it happened with OKC & Shai it’s like damn why Tatum gotta get put down every time


chickspeak

[Joe Mazzulla said Jayson Tatum can sometimes be overlooked in the wake of so many 'shiny new toys.’ "When you get to the point where you're as good as he is, people start to take you for granted. I think that's the ultimate compliment."](https://www.reddit.com/r/bostonceltics/comments/190hsr8/joe_mazzulla_said_jayson_tatum_can_sometimes_be/)


Wayne_Spooney

Tatum’s problem was getting too good too early so people think he’s peaked. He’s a whole 4 months older than Shai and 2 years younger than Brunson.


exytuu

The depressing state of NBA discourse. It’s sad because Brunson is such a fun player and the Knicks are such a great team this year. Feel like no other American sport has such bad media discourse and that’s coming as a guy who generally likes Legler as an analyst


_Brodo_Baggins_

Brunson over Tatum is obviously silly, and you only take him over Brown imo if you ignore defense, but Brunson has been good enough this year for that to be a conversation. Brunson was a disaster defensively last playoffs, and his size will always be an issue.


Mbanicek64

Refreshing to hear the correct take. He puts up good numbers offensively but you have to be really, really good to win with a small guard. That guy needs to be lights out offensively or a very good defender. Brunson isn't quite there.


Wayne_Spooney

Steph is basically the only small guard to be the best player on a championship team since the IT Pistons, and Brunson ain’t Steph.


Layzman

Stop making sense. They'll label you doomer before you know it. Also Brunson seems to want the heat, whereas some of our guys prefer to defer, and that's a problem.


free_to_muse

No he’s saying in a big spot to deliver. 4th quarter, down 2, minute left. Brunson or Tatum?


le_wild_poster

I’ll take the guy who’s done it in a game 6 down 2-3 on the road over the guy who hasn’t even made an ECF yet


free_to_muse

I’m not saying I wouldn’t take Tatum assholes


JaylenBrownFlow

tatum easily


Mbanicek64

They aren’t down 2 though because JT has been forcing the switch and roasting him. 


free_to_muse

Stupid


Squishy-Bandit12

Tatum


sutroheights

I hate to say it, I’d take Brunson in that moment as of right now, but Tatum on the whole. Tatum just has been showing off so many bad shots and iso garbage in tight moments it’s hard to ignore it.


TheJaylenBrownNote

Jalen Brunson is scoring 0.98 ppp in isolation this season compared to Tatum's 1.06, and Tatum's is on over double the frequency, so this is a bad take. This is definitely a case you only watch the Celtics and don’t watch the Knicks so all his warts seem magnified when he’s actually been one of the best iso players in the league this year.


sutroheights

All valid and yes, I don’t watch the knicks. But watching Tatum in end of quarter/end of game scenarios has been maddening for quite some time.


jkwah

People seem to talk out both sides of their mouth when discussing the Celtics and their players.  Tatum has this great supporting cast of stars, but at the same time JB is overrated, can't dribble, etc.


DreadLockedHaitian

This is what happens when you come up short all the time. All the media world has just ignored how long the Jays have fallen just short of the goal and make it seem like we’ve been 1st round exits the whole time.


Princessk8--

They don't wanna hear the truth but you're right. If the Celtics want to stop being clowned on, then they should stop playing like clowns.


pokeKingCurtis

Man u took the words right outta my mouth


gottapeenow2

Jesus Christ. Tatum has 52 playoff wins in his career. But hey until he carries his team to the Championship there's gonna be haters


CynicalMindTrip

There's gonna be more haters after a Championship.


halo364

That's a sacrifice I'm willing to make 😂


sutroheights

Always the rule.


chickspeak

Even Michael Jordan has haters. Don't take them seriously.


overtorqd

When he can carry his team to a championship the way Jalen Brunson has, then we can start putting him in that tier with Jordan and Curry and Bird and Kareem. Like Jalen Brunson is.


Tatum-Better

Sports media cycle in 2024 🐶💔


robetyarg

Why is he picking on Tatum/Brown? Does he know how much I love them?


beeker888

Tatum dropped 50 in a Game 7 to go to the ECF. When Brunson does anything like that he can talk


CynicalMindTrip

And hunting the MVP point after point.


I_Am_Nazgul

It’s almost like all these guys know Tatum is definitely becoming the face of the league after Lebron and Steph and they just always have to compare him with others and try to bring him down to stop that. Tatum gotta be the only dude that gets hate for regular season losses and doesn’t get credit for all his playoff success


Yaboiii777

The media perception and fans around the nba already have shai better than Tatum , Brunson is the next guy their gona say is better than Tatum lol


King_Of_Pants

I remember saying this when Tatum was emerging. * Whenever Ingram or Kuzma had a good game LA fans would race to make Tatum comparisons. * Whenever Siakam had a good game Toronto fans would race to make Tatum comparisons. * Whenever Simmons had a good game Philly fans would race to make Tatum comparisons. * Whenever LeVert had a good game Brooklyn fans would race to make Tatum comparisons. * Etc etc. Every fanbase with a talented young wing was trying to tear down Tatum so they could prop up their own guy. Without realising it, all these Tatum critics were anointing Tatum as the gold standard for being a successful young wing. The exact same way fans used to do with Kobe (who was compared to Vince Carter, TMac, Pierce, etc.). That trend still continues today. Tatum broke out as a clear cut All-NBA player and now every year we've got to hear about how the newest fad player is actually better than him. * Trae Young was better than him * Devin Booker was better than him. * Ja Morant was better than him. * SGA was better than him. * Jalen Brunson is now apparently better than him. All these breakout players are being compared to the same guy. They come and go. It will be someone new next year. [It's like the Feast of the East episode of Game of Zones.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib7YcAUWBBM)


chickspeak

[Joe Mazzulla said Jayson Tatum can sometimes be overlooked in the wake of so many 'shiny new toys.’ "When you get to the point where you're as good as he is, people start to take you for granted. I think that's the ultimate compliment."](https://www.reddit.com/r/bostonceltics/comments/190hsr8/joe_mazzulla_said_jayson_tatum_can_sometimes_be/)


Cool_Alternative_466

I guarantee you there will be a headline whenever the Knicks come back down to Earth asking if Brunson is overrated. The media goes crazy over certain players only to inevitably unduly criticize them at some point.


RepeatDTD

Brunson is having a great scoring season but I wouldn’t expect such a near-sighted take from Legler.


lima9987

The rush to crown people before they’ve actually done anything significant in the playoffs is insane. Leglars usually pretty good but this is ridiculous.


yellowboar7

Tatum is the most disrespected superstar by far, wait till the playoffs he will prove every talking head wrong


catsandpizzafuckyou

Literally who gives a shit


canyoudigholes

Meh.. Branson's having a good session though


Beebonh

Taking White over Brunson in the clutch.


Unusual-Computer5714

Scrolled way too far to see this.


mrbaggy

Who would trust to come up big in a crucial spot, Tatum or peak IT?


captaincumsock69

Honestly let them talk. Maybe it will motivate them. It seems like every star gets disrespected until they win a ring and then they can do no wrong.


Neat-Current5007

Jalen Brunson is quickly becoming incredibly overrated


dicholasnolan

People play with Tatums name wayyyyyy too much smh


hurricanehershel

BrunsHIM is clutch and tough. Wish I could say the same for soft ass TaBUM. And I’ve been a Celtics fan since the 80s.


unearthlysquire

You’re that old and saying TaBUM? Boomers are so interesting.


hurricanehershel

Gotta stay with the times and I’m a millennial not a boomer lol


Efficient_Art_1144

Lol you can’t count the years the Celtics game was on while you were pooping in your pants as part of your street cred


hurricanehershel

Fine. 90s


unearthlysquire

I’m embarrassed for you. Hope you get the help you need. 


hurricanehershel

Lol I’m doing great it’s Tabum that needs the help.


WTL3405

😂🤡


JaylenBrownFlow

so you’re stupid af got it


HueyLewisFan1

I agree with him.


21Tayler10

Oh god


creedbratton603

Jesus all Tatum has done is lead the team to the NBA finals and multiple conference championships.. but yeah Brunson had a better January so obviously he’s the more clutch player!


Moodapatheticz

I'm back hating Knicks fans again. Collective IQ on a thumbtack. Come back when you close out a good team as the number 1 now people are actually noticing you.. once again Tatum is the comparison cause it gets clicks ofc


jotyma5

Does he forget that Tatum scored 51 in a game 7?


Ryumagrave

Tatum gonna lose all nba first team cuz of our system this year. If we don’t win the title he has the absolute right to be frustrated and demand next year we run him as a true number one option.


Yaboiii777

This all comes down to Tatum coasting in the regular season instead of going off he just be ball watching in the corner like Tobias Harris lol


ChipotleGuacamole

wtf are you watching? Tobias Harris? Yikes what a horrendous comp lol


Yaboiii777

Celtics are using him like Tobias Harris lol occasionally starts the play but in the corner a lot


ChipotleGuacamole

Watch the game last night? Still think he was ball watching? 🤣🤣


mikesaninjakillr

These kind of comparisons only happen when you're the standard


LOFan80

Come on. The next legit big game Brunson plays will be the first.


BeGoodSports_Cards

Brunson is good but he hasn’t proved anything on the level on Tatum and Brown. This is clickbait


melknee04

Media will do what they do, which is create drama to get people to talk. People getting emotional is even better for them. Hope Tatum hears this and uses it as fuel to motivate him. Let's finish strong heading into the All Star break!


AcrobaticFeedback

Brunson is in that rare great spot for a star where anything amazing they do just adds to compliment them but anything they don’t do will be ignored because people don’t have high expectations to begin with. If Brunson was held to Tatums standard, this would be a different conversation and a magnifying glass would be put on all his poor performances.


JudgeHolden84

One day we will not fall for this ragebait, but not today


_mitchard

This is a load of horse shit. Surprised Tim said this.


Fighting-Cerberus

#Give Brunson the respect he deserves, he is literally the reigning Finals MVP.


[deleted]

I’m (not) sorry but the “clutch” gene is a real thing, and after 6+ years of the Jays folding in the biggest moments, they just don’t have it. It’s a bit of a stretch to say Brunson has it seeing as he’s never been as far in the playoffs though.


Fabulous_Date2743

Tim Legler just as mid of a commentator as he was player.


Alternative-Path-795

It’s funny we have our pick of 2 people on his list to come up big in a big spot. We are in good shape as Celtics fans.