Earlier than this Celtics vs. Knicks sequence started, I wrote that New York “arguably” has one of the best participant on this sequence. With how issues have gone, New York taking a 2-0 lead in essentially the most inconceivable of the way, it feels as if we are able to drop the “arguably” qualifier and simply hand Jalen Brunson his flowers.

That is not a sizzling take. And it is not simply primarily based on this sequence, both. Brunson is within the highest tier of superstars, even acknowledging the unusual reluctance there may be to formally stamp him with such standing.

There has lengthy been the same phenomenon taking place with Jayson Tatum, the one man on this sequence with a case towards Brunson, and who has additionally, regardless of being on his technique to his fourth straight first-team All-NBA nod, discovered himself persistently bumping into the best celebrity ceiling. 

The plenty simply have not been able to let him break via that final stage. Who is aware of why? Maybe as a result of he performs on a such a sum-of-its-parts superteam, a story that certainly gained steam on the again of the identical lazy “he did not even win Finals MVP!” narrative that caught to Stephen Curry for years. 

Tatum is not as environment friendly as a number of the extra universally acknowledged superstars, however he additionally does far more than numerous them. He is an excellent rebounder and defender and has develop into a fairly top-shelf playmaker. He is additionally, for essentially the most half, develop into a way more dependable finisher on shorter pictures, which plagued him for many of his profession. Taken as a complete package deal in full and correct context, Tatum is up there with nearly anybody — this horrible exhibiting towards the Knicks up to now however. 

However celebrity conversations are likely to get whittled all the way down to the high quality print. The Jordan vs. LeBron debate is usually settled by two guys in a bar posing the query: “Recreation on the road, who would you like taking the shot?” For quantity of individuals, that is actually all it boils all the way down to. And proper now, you’ll be arduous pressed to search out any midway goal observer who would not select Brunson over Tatum day-after-day of the week to command his crew within the largest video games and moments. 

The numbers greater than again this up. On Wednesday, Brunson grew to become the primary participant within the NBA’s play-by-play period to attain not less than 83 fourth-quarter factors via the primary eight video games of two totally different playoff runs (2024 and 2025). Drill down deeper, and over the ultimate 5 fourth-quarter minutes of Video games 1 and a pair of of this sequence, Brunson has outscored Tatum 17-4 and Boston’s complete crew 17-13.

All instructed, Brunson has scored 90 clutch factors over the previous two postseasons. That is already essentially the most in a span of two playoff runs since Kobe Bryant in 2009-10, and Brunson has not less than 4 video games, and sure extra, left so as to add to that quantity. 

In the meantime, Tatum, who’s 12 for 43 on this Knicks sequence total (together with 5 of 20 from 3), has missed eight of 10 pictures and all 4 of his 3-pointers in 19 clutch minutes up to now on this postseason. It is an extension of an everyday season by which he shot 6 for 31 from 3 and simply 65% from the free-throw line throughout clutch minutes. 

Final season, even because the Celtics received the championship, Tatum shot simply 36% in 110 regular-season clutch minutes and 5 of 17 within the playoffs, together with 1 of seven from 3. Within the 2023 Jap Convention finals, when the Celtics went down 3-0 to the Warmth earlier than dropping in seven, Tatum shot 23% from 3 for the sequence. Within the 2022 Finals, he shot 36% from the sphere. 

There’s some context to this. Tatum attracts a disproportionate share of each protection’s consideration and has to take numerous robust pictures, however he additionally performs his method into his share of pictures which are harder than they essentially have to be. 

Nonetheless, NBA superstars, rightly or wrongly, aren’t sometimes evaluated in deep and even — relying in your viewpoint — correct context. It is solely about bottom-line manufacturing. And Tatum’s manufacturing, or lack thereof, within the largest moments of this postseason has not been an anomaly. Fairly, it is the continuation of a pattern that dates again years, as evidenced by the playoff clutch numbers you see under. 

It is unusual that Tatum’s celebrity standing appears to nonetheless be caught in one thing of a probationary interval, like a utility celebrity virtually — within the lineup numerous days however with out a penciled-in place. Any droop, certainly one on the incorrect time, can land him again on the bench, the place, by the way, he spent the majority of his time with Group USA throughout final summer season’s Olympic gold medal run. 

Once more, that “demotion” requires context. On a crew with that a lot expertise — a crew for which Brunson wasn’t even chosen, by the best way — Tatum wasn’t wanted to do all of the issues he does for the Celtics. He was solely wanted, actually, to shoot, and Steve Kerr simply determined that Devin Booker was a extra reliable shooter than Tatum. 

It is arduous to argue with the choice. Tatum did not shoot properly within the minutes he noticed with Group USA, and as you’ll be able to see within the desk above, he hasn’t actually shot that properly within the largest moments of his NBA profession. Because the struggles have continued into this postseason, the place they’ve develop into downright evident, it looks like Tatum is correct again on trial for his celebrity standing. It appears there may be solely room for a handful of fellows at anyone time on this dialog and, not less than in the mean time, Brunson has taken Tatum’s place.