It’s the traditional case of two wrongs making a proper.
Jayson Tatum for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Straight up.
I do know what you’re pondering.
Properly, really I don’t.
As a result of in case you’re a Celtics fan, you’d by no means do that.
And in case you’re a Bucks fan, you’d by no means do that.
In that sense, I suppose I do know what you’re pondering.
And in each instances, you’re incorrect. You should rethink.
In nearly each case, the best gamers in NBA historical past had been winners.
Celtics followers contemplate Tatum an excellent participant. Similar with the Bucks and their beloved Giannis.
And in some ways, they’re proper.
However with two titles in a mixed 21 NBA seasons, neither qualifies as a winner.
That’s to not say they’ll’t be. There’s nonetheless time.
However a change of surroundings — and a state of affairs extra tailor-made to their expertise — would assist.
In an Japanese Convention that continues to be wide-open – however not open sufficient at this level for the Celtics or Bucks – right here’s why every crew ought to pull the set off on one of many all-time blockbusters …
Giannis matches the Celtics higher
What we’ve realized from watching the primary third of the season is that the Celtics are at their greatest when centered on defensive tenacity and transition alternatives.
Tatum does quite a lot of good issues, however he’s extra legal responsibility than chief in these areas.
Which makes you surprise: Will he try and transition into the crew’s new type when he returns from his Achilles damage (fats likelihood of that), or will the Celtics transition again into Tatum Ball?
As we now have gotten a chance to see, the Celtics play with way more power and unselfishness when Jaylen Brown is given the chance to set the instance. Too typically, his position as Tatum’s sidekick has been to face within the nook and watch his teammate placed on a 23-second dribbling exhibition that has led to a bunch of unhealthy pictures.
Giannis doesn’t play that means.
It begins along with his rim-protecting potential that will permit the instantly youthful, extra athletic Celtics to smother opponents on the perimeter, like they did after they had Robert Williams stationed within the paint to restore cracks within the protection.
And in the case of a fast-paced assault, no one goes end-to-end quicker – and with extra crowd-pleasing power – than the Greek gazelle.
Extra protection. Quicker tempo. Permit Brown an opportunity to unfold his wings.
Three strikes and Tatum is out.
Tatum is the Bucks’ lacking hyperlink
Like Tatum, Giannis has his shortcomings. Each are on the offensive finish.
First off, he’s a poor perimeter shooter. But when issues decelerate and the Bucks want a hoop from their star, far too typically he’s jacked up a few of the most ill-advised 3-pointers in NBA historical past.
Perhaps it is as a result of he is such an unimaginative ball distributor.
Continuous late-game failures led to the Bucks paying a miller’s ransom to herald Damian Lillard two years in the past. The long run Corridor of Famer made his fair proportion of clutch pictures, however at age 33, then 34, he wasn’t the 20-something model Milwaukee foolishly thought it is perhaps getting.
Lillard is not round, and the Bucks are proper again the place they had been three years in the past – with Giannis taking unhealthy pictures or, worse but, Kyle Kuzma taking just about any shot.
This crew desperately wants a turn-back-the-clock model of Lillard, and that’s precisely what Tatum brings. Heck, he’s even 20-something (27), 4 years youthful than Giannis.
No one desires the ball extra in clutch conditions than Tatum. That’s not all the time an excellent factor, nevertheless it certain beats placing Giannis in that state of affairs.
The Bucks have some good items, together with a set of surprisingly good 3-point shooters and a defensive power on the rim.
That’s the kind of supporting solid that’s made Tatum an MVP candidate up to now. Particularly the presence of Myles Turner, who can tackle the hardest big-man defensive challenges whereas Tatum stands subsequent to the rim and collects low-cost rebounds.
Higher structured half-court offense. Slower tempo extra appropriate to the postseason. An elite passer who attracts double groups and creates openings for perimeter shooters who can’t do it themselves.
The identify even matches higher on a Bucks uniform.
Instantly, the Celtics would develop into the favourite within the East, with the Bucks quietly re-emerging as a contender pending Tatum’s return to type.
That’s a win-win – and a loss for the likes of the Knicks, Pistons, Magic, Cavaliers and whoever else is dreaming of being this yr’s Pacers.
Sure, Celtics and Bucks followers, each groups certainly get higher … however provided that the doubters perceive that when the opposite facet thinks their participant is healthier than yours, they is perhaps proper.
So make the deal already.
