No… Tatum’s on track to surpass Paul in counting stats and have a better team career due to the superiority of the Celtics regime during Tatum’s tenure.
Comparing games, they’re both excellent on all 3 levels and could create their own offense off the dribble; the difference is Pierce was a more versatile scorer and a better playmaker. Paul shot well off the curl, spot up, and didn’t have to dribble to get a great shot. I was watching a PP highlight where he posted and caught the ball in his sweet spot, went to the triple threat, jab stepped, and rose over the top without dribbling. JT isn’t comfortable unless he dribbles even when he’s wide open.
Pierce had a certain confidence to his game that JT doesn’t and it’s his biggest advantage over him. Paul had sweet spots, got to them, and executed especially in the clutch. It’s the mark of a great scorer and why contemporaries like KD, Kawhi, and Derozan are so deadly in the clutch. They’re not just taking what the defense gives them, they get to one of their spots, shoot, and have a high probability of making it. Except for the side step 3 (which he shoots at an above average clip but isn’t reliable enough for the clutch) JT looks like he’s freestyling out there.
On defense, they’re similar, but JT is more active and athletic on that end and is showing the signs of a good weak side rim protector. If he becomes among the great scorer I described in the prior paragraph, JT will close the gap and surpass Pierce.