JT vs PP

[Ed Monix]

Jayson Tatum  2020-21 4th NBA Season 2X All-Star 25.7 PPG 7.1 RPG 4.2 AST (Age 23)

Paul Pierce      2002-03 5th NBA Season 2X All Star 25.9 PPG 7.3 RPG 4.4 AST (Age 25)

[makaveli]

Nice comparison.

Wonder what the FT’s number looks like. Point being, Tatum can get to the hole anytime, but he prefers to take contested 3’s...

[Ed Monix]

Nice comparison.

Wonder what the FT’s number looks like. Point being, Tatum can get to the hole anytime, but he prefers to take contested 3’s...

Jayson Tatum  2020-21 MPG 35.6 FG% .456 3P% .380 FT 4.1 FTA 4.7 FT% .877

Paul Pierce      2002-03 MPG 39.2 FG% .416 3P% .302 FT 7.6 FTA 9.5 FT% .802

* Paul's 3 point shot strangely dipped for two seasons but returned to .370 in 2004-05

[Vermont Green]

Jayson Tatum  2020-21 4th NBA Season 2X All-Star 25.7 PPG 7.1 RPG 4.2 AST (Age 23)

Paul Pierce      2002-03 5th NBA Season 2X All Star 25.9 PPG 7.3 RPG 4.4 AST (Age 25)

I think your age is a little off.  At the start of the 2002 season, Pierce was 25 but 26 at the end (Born October 1977).  Tatum was 22 at the start of the 2020 season and turned 23 in March 2021.  You don't have apples to apples.  You either have to say they were 22/25 at the start of the season or 23/26 at the end.

Doesn't take away from the point though, perhaps even reinforces it.  Tatum is doing well as compared to Pierce and doing it at a younger age.

Pierce could draw more fouls and even if the numbers don't show it, Pierce was a better rebounder as he could muscle his way to getting some really important rebounds.  Tatum is a better pure shooter but not as versatile of an overall scorer (at least not yet).

[greg683x]

The difference in free throw attempts is huge.  There are playoffs games that Pierce single handedly won for us just because the other team couldn’t keep him off the free throw line.  It’s a weapon he always had if his shot wasn’t falling.  If Tatums shot isn’t falling he has a tendency to disappear.

Pierce also had the clutch gene and could just take over games, I can’t think of one meaningful game that Tatum completely took over.

[jambr380]

It can be difficult to compare eras. The Cs in 2002-03 averaged only 92.7ppg, while the Cs this season are averaging 112.4ppg - that's a 20ppg difference! The percentages from that era were rough for sure (people always go after Antoine for this).

Tatum is having a nice season, but prior to his 53 point game, many of us had him missing All-NBA.

[Goldstar88]

Jayson Tatum  2020-21 4th NBA Season 2X All-Star 25.7 PPG 7.1 RPG 4.2 AST (Age 23)

Paul Pierce      2002-03 5th NBA Season 2X All Star 25.9 PPG 7.3 RPG 4.4 AST (Age 25)

I think your age is a little off.  At the start of the 2002 season, Pierce was 25 but 26 at the end (Born October 1977).  Tatum was 22 at the start of the 2020 season and turned 23 in March 2021.  You don't have apples to apples.  You either have to say they were 22/25 at the start of the season or 23/26 at the end.

Doesn't take away from the point though, perhaps even reinforces it.  Tatum is doing well as compared to Pierce and doing it at a younger age.

Pierce could draw more fouls and even if the numbers don't show it, Pierce was a better rebounder as he could muscle his way to getting some really important rebounds.  Tatum is a better pure shooter but not as versatile of an overall scorer (at least not yet).

What do you think he lacks in terms of scoring versatility?

[timpiker]

The difference in free throw attempts is huge.  There are playoffs games that Pierce single handedly won for us just because the other team couldn’t keep him off the free throw line.  It’s a weapon he always had if his shot wasn’t falling.  If Tatums shot isn’t falling he has a tendency to disappear.

Pierce also had the clutch gene and could just take over games, I can’t think of one meaningful game that Tatum completely took over.

This.  Tatum's great and I'm glad to have him.  Hopefully he'll get more PP-like on free throws and late game heroics as he matures.

[Donoghus]

If Tatum doesn't end up going down as the better player between the two, it'll be a disappointment. 

Tatum's ceiling is higher than what Pierce's career was.  Let's hope he gets there.

[PhoSita]

The main thing from Pierce's game that Tatum has been missing is craftiness getting to the basket and drawing fouls.

The last few games Tatum has been really aggressive in taking over late when the team was going to lose otherwise.  He's gotten to the line a fair amount.  If he can keep up that kind of aggressive intensity, the Celts will be an entirely different kind of team.

[slamtheking]

Jayson Tatum  2020-21 4th NBA Season 2X All-Star 25.7 PPG 7.1 RPG 4.2 AST (Age 23)

Paul Pierce      2002-03 5th NBA Season 2X All Star 25.9 PPG 7.3 RPG 4.4 AST (Age 25)

I think your age is a little off.  At the start of the 2002 season, Pierce was 25 but 26 at the end (Born October 1977).  Tatum was 22 at the start of the 2020 season and turned 23 in March 2021.  You don't have apples to apples.  You either have to say they were 22/25 at the start of the season or 23/26 at the end.

Doesn't take away from the point though, perhaps even reinforces it.  Tatum is doing well as compared to Pierce and doing it at a younger age.

Pierce could draw more fouls and even if the numbers don't show it, Pierce was a better rebounder as he could muscle his way to getting some really important rebounds.  Tatum is a better pure shooter but not as versatile of an overall scorer (at least not yet).

What do you think he lacks in terms of scoring versatility?

ability to draw fouls and get the line.  Ability to put the team on his back in the fourth quarter and score down the stretch of close games.  a reliable go-to shot defenders can't stop --> a sidestep 3 isn't that shot.

[Vermont Green]

Jayson Tatum  2020-21 4th NBA Season 2X All-Star 25.7 PPG 7.1 RPG 4.2 AST (Age 23)

Paul Pierce      2002-03 5th NBA Season 2X All Star 25.9 PPG 7.3 RPG 4.4 AST (Age 25)

I think your age is a little off.  At the start of the 2002 season, Pierce was 25 but 26 at the end (Born October 1977).  Tatum was 22 at the start of the 2020 season and turned 23 in March 2021.  You don't have apples to apples.  You either have to say they were 22/25 at the start of the season or 23/26 at the end.

Doesn't take away from the point though, perhaps even reinforces it.  Tatum is doing well as compared to Pierce and doing it at a younger age.

Pierce could draw more fouls and even if the numbers don't show it, Pierce was a better rebounder as he could muscle his way to getting some really important rebounds.  Tatum is a better pure shooter but not as versatile of an overall scorer (at least not yet).

What do you think he lacks in terms of scoring versatility?

ability to draw fouls and get the line.  Ability to put the team on his back in the fourth quarter and score down the stretch of close games.  a reliable go-to shot defenders can't stop --> a sidestep 3 isn't that shot.

Pierce just had more muscle and that allowed him to have an arsenal of shots that weren't jump shots or full out drives to the hoop.  As others have said, these were shots that would draw more fouls.

Tatum is still young.  All this may come for him but right now Tatum isn't great at muscling his way to tough buckets or fouls, something Pierce was able to do very well.

[GreenCoffeeBean]

Jayson Tatum  2020-21 4th NBA Season 2X All-Star 25.7 PPG 7.1 RPG 4.2 AST (Age 23)

Paul Pierce      2002-03 5th NBA Season 2X All Star 25.9 PPG 7.3 RPG 4.4 AST (Age 25)

I think your age is a little off.  At the start of the 2002 season, Pierce was 25 but 26 at the end (Born October 1977).  Tatum was 22 at the start of the 2020 season and turned 23 in March 2021.  You don't have apples to apples.  You either have to say they were 22/25 at the start of the season or 23/26 at the end.

Doesn't take away from the point though, perhaps even reinforces it.  Tatum is doing well as compared to Pierce and doing it at a younger age.

Pierce could draw more fouls and even if the numbers don't show it, Pierce was a better rebounder as he could muscle his way to getting some really important rebounds.  Tatum is a better pure shooter but not as versatile of an overall scorer (at least not yet).

What do you think he lacks in terms of scoring versatility?

ability to draw fouls and get the line.  Ability to put the team on his back in the fourth quarter and score down the stretch of close games.  a reliable go-to shot defenders can't stop --> a sidestep 3 isn't that shot.

Pierce just had more muscle and that allowed him to have an arsenal of shots that weren't jump shots or full out drives to the hoop.  As others have said, these were shots that would draw more fouls.

Tatum is still young.  All this may come for him but right now Tatum isn't great at muscling his way to tough buckets or fouls. something Pierce was able to do very well.

To add to this: PP could function like a PF on offense if he wanted to. He was comfortable creating shots that were uncomfortable. Tatum doesn’t seem to like contact.

[Who]

Can't compare today's sissy-boy league stats to an era where defense was played.

[mobilija]

Jayson Tatum  2020-21 4th NBA Season 2X All-Star 25.7 PPG 7.1 RPG 4.2 AST (Age 23)

Paul Pierce      2002-03 5th NBA Season 2X All Star 25.9 PPG 7.3 RPG 4.4 AST (Age 25)

I think your age is a little off.  At the start of the 2002 season, Pierce was 25 but 26 at the end (Born October 1977).  Tatum was 22 at the start of the 2020 season and turned 23 in March 2021.  You don't have apples to apples.  You either have to say they were 22/25 at the start of the season or 23/26 at the end.

Doesn't take away from the point though, perhaps even reinforces it.  Tatum is doing well as compared to Pierce and doing it at a younger age.

Pierce could draw more fouls and even if the numbers don't show it, Pierce was a better rebounder as he could muscle his way to getting some really important rebounds.  Tatum is a better pure shooter but not as versatile of an overall scorer (at least not yet).

What do you think he lacks in terms of scoring versatility?

ability to draw fouls and get the line.  Ability to put the team on his back in the fourth quarter and score down the stretch of close games.  a reliable go-to shot defenders can't stop --> a sidestep 3 isn't that shot.

Tatum go to is the one leg Dirk fade away...its pretty effective