2008 vs. 2024, with a twist

[Roy H.]

I saw this on social media.  Which team would be better, the 2024 team with Paul Pierce, or the 2008 team with Jayson Tatum?

No other parameters were given, so construct your own arguments about era, how to define "better", what roles would change, whether chemistry matters, etc.

[Donoghus]

2024 Celtics. 

I think, offensively, they'd be too much for 2008 to handle.  Both teams are stacked defensively.  I just think adding the 2008 version of Pierce to the 2024 team would tip things in '24's favor. 2008 Pierce was so confident in his game and was locked in on both ends of the floor.  I think his mindset at the time is better than where Tatum was at this last season.  They'd be no lack of confidence there.

I will say, though, the one place where '08 could get the '24 team is the battle of the benches but I'm assuming we'd be working with shortened rotations here so not sure how much it would actually skew in '08's favor.

It would be awesome to see.

[Kernewek]

I think the big question is how much time would each team have to adapt to the rulesets - but in general I'd say 2008-with-Tatum is going to struggle mightily because relying on Perkins with the way basketball is understood in 2024 is an absolute recipe for losing games. He's more unplayable than post-verticality Roy Hibbert.

Whereas 2024-with-Pierce, you just tell him to shoot like Antoine, but smarter.

[Donoghus]

I think the big question is how much time would each team have to adapt to the rulesets - but in general I'd say 2008-with-Tatum is going to struggle mightily because relying on Perkins with the way basketball is understood in 2024 is an absolute recipe for losing games. He's more unplayable than post-verticality Roy Hibbert.

Whereas 2024-with-Pierce, you just tell him to shoot like Antoine, but smarter.

I think a guy like Holiday would've absolutely thrived in 2008.

[Vermont Green]

This is a fun question.  I think the cop out answer is that both teams would still win championships, but I think overall, the 2008 team is better, more size.  It would not come down to Pierce vs. Tatum.  That swap would not tip the scales in either direction.  Pierce would be the PF and have to cover Garnett, Tatum could go back to playing exclusively at SF, and match up on Brown (which would be fun).  To me, all that favors 2008.

As to Pierce vs. Tatum, I think either could play in the other's era just fine.  They are different players, but both excellent players.  In the 2008 MVP voting, Pierce was tied for 30th with one vote/point.  Tatum was 6th with 86 votes/points in 2024.  Tatum is probably a better player right now than Pierce was in 2008.

[Roy H.]

I'm going to take "better" in a slightly different direction, and consider how the teams would compare to their peers.

The 2008 team had a +11.2 Net Rating, and a historically good defense.  They were only 10th in offensive efficiency, though. I think Tatum would increase that offensive rating significantly, without hurting the defense at all.  I think we'd be looking at one of the greatest teams ever in terms of point differential, and we'd probably have won 72+ games.

The 2024 was historically great offensively.  But, I think Pierce would fit less well with that team than Tatum would the 2008 squad, and the improvement would be slightly less overall.  They'd still be a candidate for best team of all-time, though!

I wonder what the lineups would be?

2024:

KP / Horford
Tatum
Pierce
Brown / White
Jrue

2008:

Perk
KG / Posey
Pierce / Tatum
Allen
Rondo

Head to head, 2024 wins, just due to style of play.  If the 2008 team was "modernized" -- meaning KG shifts to center and adds a 3PT jumper and Pierce/Allen shoot from outside constantly, then maybe they have a shot.  But as is, 2024 would just kill them from outside.

[Roy H.]

I think the big question is how much time would each team have to adapt to the rulesets - but in general I'd say 2008-with-Tatum is going to struggle mightily because relying on Perkins with the way basketball is understood in 2024 is an absolute recipe for losing games. He's more unplayable than post-verticality Roy Hibbert.

Whereas 2024-with-Pierce, you just tell him to shoot like Antoine, but smarter.

I think a guy like Holiday would've absolutely thrived in 2008.

White, too.  KP might have been a bit less effective, but if Mehmet Okur could thrive, so could KP.

[Kernewek]

I think the big question is how much time would each team have to adapt to the rulesets - but in general I'd say 2008-with-Tatum is going to struggle mightily because relying on Perkins with the way basketball is understood in 2024 is an absolute recipe for losing games. He's more unplayable than post-verticality Roy Hibbert.

Whereas 2024-with-Pierce, you just tell him to shoot like Antoine, but smarter.

I think a guy like Holiday would've absolutely thrived in 2008.

I think so, too - his rookie season in '09-'10 was pretty promising.

[Goldstar88]

Pierce was 30 or 31 when he won in 2008. Tatum turned 26 in March. Crazy that Jayson is just entering his prime.

[Who]

Pierce couldn't play the PF position as well as Tatum is able to. Pierce is too small. Not as dynamic defensively. Or as a strong a rebounder. Tatum makes the small ball work. Pierce could not.

[tazzmaniac]

I think losing Pierce's experience and leadership would hurt the 2008 team.  You had the 3 older stars willing to sacrifice to win a championship.  Ray was willing to play 3rd fiddle to Pierce and KG.  Not sure that he'd do that for JT.  I don't think Pierce would have any problem fitting into the 2024 team.