As the NBA playoffs continue, the debate around the performance of Boston Celtics players Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown has only intensified. Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has had an inconsistent playoff performance compared to the emergent Jaylen Brown, who has been steadily advancing as the team’s primary offensive option (ClutchPoints).
In their recent game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Brown scored 23 points, while Tatum had a rough night, finishing with only seven (RotoBaller). This follows Tatum’s strong double-double in the previous game, where he provided 27 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists (CBS Sports). His inconsistency is not going unnoticed, with ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith stating that Tatum needs to be more consistent on either end of the floor in the postseason for the Celtics (Basketball Network).
On the other hand, Jaylen Brown has been contributing consistently during the playoffs, leading some to call him a more influential player than Tatum. In the Celtics’ recent win against the 76ers, Brown contributed 23 points and was widely praised for his performance (FOX Sports). While Tatum did score 27 points in that specific game, his prior inconsistent performances have led to speculation about who the better player is.
Tatum, who finished fourth in the MVP voting for the 2022-2023 season (Boston.com), had a clear plan to improve from his no-show in Game 2 (NESN). He remained focused on winning the MVP in the future, confident that he has 15 more years to achieve that goal (Boston.com). Despite his focus on self-improvement, Tatum has also demonstrated his support for his teammates, recently confronting reporters who laughed at fellow Celtics player Al Horford’s comment (BasketNews).
As the playoffs progress, it remains to be seen whether Tatum can regain his consistency and silence critics. The Celtics will need both their stars, Tatum and Brown, to work together in harmony in order to succeed in the postseason. With a balanced team effort, as seen in their recent win against the 76ers where six Celtics players scored double figures, led by Tatum’s 27 points (Sports Illustrated), they can compete against the best in the Eastern Conference.
