After a shaky start to the 2021-22 NBA season, it appears that the Boston Celtics have finally found the form they have been in search of this season. The Celtics have won eight out of their 10 games and have been in sensational form.
The team’s most recent win came against the Brooklyn Nets in a closely fought affair. When the final buzzer was rung, the scoreline stood at 126-120 in favor of the Celtics. It was none other than Jayson Tatum who helped the team win this fixture.
Tatum was on the floor for 41 minutes in the game and he managed to score 54 points during this time. Moreover, he also grabbed 5 rebounds and assisted 3 times. To make things special, Tatum is already tied with none other than the legendary Larry Bird for most 50-points games by a player for the Celtics.
Keeping the above-mentioned stats in mind, NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins compared the 24-year-old to another Celtics legend, Paul Pierce.
“Jayson Tatum is giving me them Paul Pierce vibes lately the way he’s protecting his house when other ELITE players come into the Garden!!! The Celtics are LEGIT. He gave them people a 50 piece spicy! All Flats. Carry the hell on…”
Jayson Tatum is giving me them Paul Pierce vibes lately the way he’s protecting his house when other ELITE players come into the Garden!!! The Celtics are LEGIT. He gave them people a 50 piece spicy! All Flats. Carry the hell on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 6, 2022
Upon seeing this tweet by Perkins, a fan disagreed to it by claiming that Tatum has already surpassed Pierce.
Tatum been passed Paul Pierce Wtf.”
Tatum been passed Paul Pierce 💀 Wtf https://t.co/LDUwaoTvbV
— Keezy (@KB__Hoops) March 6, 2022
Well, we are all aware that Perkins is someone who is quite active when it comes to replying to fans on Twitter. He did the same while explaining his point of why Tatum is yet to pass Pierce.
“You do realize that Paul Pierce had one of the greatest individual runs in Playoffs History! He went through Joe Johnson, Lebron James, and Kobe Bryant to win his Championship… plus the Finals MVP! Carry on…”
You do realize that Paul Pierce had one of the greatest individual runs in Playoffs History! He went through Joe Johnson, Lebron James, and Kobe Bryant to win his Championship… plus the Finals MVP! Carry on… https://t.co/7yYlhjabfJ
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 6, 2022
Perkins is referring to when the Celtics won the NBA Championship back in 2008. Although Pierce had a great series, he still had the help of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. So calling that run an individual brilliance might be a bit of a stretch.
Regardless, it is still more than what Tatum has achieved in the postseason so far in his career. Maybe that’ll change this in the near future. But until then, it is hard to put Jayson Tatum over Paul Pierce, at least in terms of legacy.
