The Boston Celtics jumped the gun on the Dallas Mavericks in sweeping the first two games at home in the NBA Finals, led by their tandem of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Celtics legend Paul Pierce weighed in on the debate on whether Brown or Tatum is the team's best player amid an assertion by Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd that Brown is the best player on the opposing end.
Through the first two games of the series, Brown has averaged 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, while Tatum had 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 8.5 assists.
Prior to Game 2, Jason Kidd attempted to single out Brown as the Celtics' best player in what many deemed as an attempt to rattle Tatum. Brown failed to make any of the three All-NBA teams, but Tatum was part of the All-NBA first team and finished sixth in the MVP voting.
When asked on how the Mavericks planned to defend Brown after his team-high 22 points in Game 1, Kidd commented: “Well, Jaylen’s their best player… He did everything. And does what the best player does…He plays both sides at a higher rate, and he’s been doing that the whole playoffs. We're talking about the Eastern Conference [Finals] MVP.”
Jaylen Brown playing best basketball since Conference Finals, says Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce fired back at Skip Bayless in an episode of Undisputed Live, when the latter asked on whether Jaylen Brown has proven that he is the best player in Pierce's eyes. The outspoken Celtics legend explained that Brown has been a menace on both ends of the floor as he has been scoring at will while taking on the defensive assignment on two of the best players on the Mavericks.
“[Jaylen Brown’s] been playing the best basketball of everybody probably since the Conference Finals where he was named Eastern Conference MVP. Did y’all forget that? And he’s carried it over into the finals,” said Pierce. “I mean I look up he’s averaging 22 points per game, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, shooting 56% from the field. On the flip side he’s guarding Luka, you know causing all kind of havoc for him. He’s guarding Kyrie, I mean he’s doing everything this team needs to win.”
“As decorated as Jayson Tatum is the last few years…to say right now that Jaylen is the best player on the team says a lot on how good this team really is. Jaylen Brown didn't even make an All-NBA team…[he's] one of probably the top two or three two-way players in the game doesn't make an All-NBA team on a 64-win team by far the best record in the NBA,” Pierce added. “This would be vindication for him if he was to go on and not only win the championship but win Finals MVP, because in my eyes I think Jaylen Brown is probably the most underrated player in the NBA today.”
Pierce echoes Tatum, Brown sentiments after Kidd's divisive comment
Paul Pierce then proceeded to echo the comments made by both Tatum and Brown to deflect Kidd's attempts to divide the duo. He then said the desire to win the championship for the Celtics is greater than the debate on who the better player is on the roster.
“And the truth of the matter Skip, I don’t even think he [Brown] cares if he’s the best player, these guys wanna win a championship so bad. I don't think Jayson Tatum cares. That says a lot about this team.”
Tatum was familiar with Jason Kidd's comments, saying attempts to break him and Brown apart have come and gone.
“We understand that people try to drive a wedge between us. I guess it’s a smart thing to do — or try to do,” Tatum said, via the AP. “We've been in this position for many years, of guys trying to divide us and say that one of us should be traded, or one is better than the other. So it's not our first time at the rodeo.”
Brown also asserted his eyes towards the championship goal and not let anything get in between the way with him and Tatum.
“We've been just extremely focused on what our roles and our jobs are. We have all had to sacrifice,” Brown said. “Right now, at this point, it's whatever it takes to win. And we can’t let any outside interpretations try to get in between us.”
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