Jayson Tatum surpasses Larry Bird with an incredible NBA playoff record

Jayson Tatum passes Larry Bird for remarkable NBA playoff record originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan.

That’s the new pinnacle three for whole playoff points through the first seven seasons of an NBA career. Tatum surpassed Jordan previously in the Boston Celtics’ 2024 playoff run, and he topped Bird for the duration of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He wished solely six factors on Thursday night time to accomplish the feat and finished the night time with 23 in Boston’s 126-110 win.

The rest of the top 10 isn’t always too shabby. Take a appear at the elite team Tatum now leads in the chart below:

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Tatum, 26, has regarded in the playoffs in every of his first seven seasons. Since being taken 1/3 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, the five-time All-Star has helped the C’s to five Eastern Conference Finals plus a time out to the NBA Finals in 2022.

The Celtics are two wins away from any other Finals berth. They started out their collection against the Indiana Pacers with a thrilling additional time victory at TD Garden. Tatum scored a game-high 36 factors in the win, along with 10 in OT.

Celtics icon Paul Pierce slams the comparisons between Luka Doncic and Larry Bird

Mavericks celebrity Luka Doncic stands to lose in a head-to-head evaluation with Celtics tremendous Larry Bird, according to Paul Pierce.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is carving a name for himself in the NBA, however he continues to draw comparisons to Boston Celtics great Larry Bird due to sure similarities in their game. But some other Celtics legend in Paul Pierce begs to fluctuate and seeks to quit the comparisons.

Pierce said on Undisputed Live that hearing the names of Doncic and Bird together in the same sentence “is hurting my ears.” He additionally has Bird triumphing more head-to-head categories over Doncic.

“Let’s quit with the comparisons here,” Pierce said. According to him, Bird wins in the shooting, passing, speed, and IQ categories, while Doncic would win over Bird in phrases of scoring and handles. “I go speed, Bird. It’s very close,” he delivered with a chuckle.

Luka Doncic carving very own identify en route to turning into all-time great

Despite being worn-out of the Doncic-Bird comparisons, Paul Pierce lauded Doncic as one who is making a title for himself in the league. However, he mentioned that Doncic is nearer to some other legendary participant in LeBron James as they reflect every different in more categories, but with much less athleticism.

“I think Luka is carving out his very own niche. He’s been All-NBA [First Team] four times, he should win a championship this year. He’s on his way to becoming an all-time great. We’re speakme about one of the pinnacle five, 10 players to play the game,” Pierce added.

“Will Luka get there? Numbers-wise, he’s getting there. Bird [won] three straight MVPs, he modified the game, he made us watch basketball. In his 2nd year…he received a championship, who does that?” Pierce said. “He is in all likelihood the European LeBron James because [of] the way he can score, the way he can pass, the way he rebounds, and the way he controls the game. I’ll provide him that, he’s a less athletic LeBron.”

“Let’s cease with the comparisons… He [Luka Doncic] is on his way to being an all-time great, but we’re talking about one of the pinnacle five or 10 players to ever play the game.” Paul Pierce is not a fan of the Luka/Larry Bird comparisons 👀 (via @undisputed)

“Let’s stop with the comparisons… He [Luka Doncic] is on his way to being an all-time great, but we’re talking about one of the top 5 or 10 players to ever play the game.”

Paul Pierce isn’t a fan of the Luka/Larry Bird comparisons 👀

(via @undisputed)pic.twitter.com/6R7pqrdTvc

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 21, 2024

Luka Doncic drawing Larry Bird comparisons through the years

Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic has been drawing comparisons to Celtics superb Larry Bird in the past few years due to his apparent lack of speed, which was extra than offset via his crafty moves on the floor.

“I performed with Bird. For three years straight, I watched, and that was once the feeling when you watched him each single night. Magic Johnson used to be the equal kind of player. Really, LeBron James is the same kind of player, too. These guys can do whatever on a basketball court,” then-Mavericks Head Coach Rick Carlisle said of Doncic in 2021.

Robert Horry, a former veteran NBA forward, chimed in a 2022 episode of The Byron Scott Podcast that Doncic’s slow moves are deceptive and knew very well how to use his actions to his advantage.

“You seem to be at Bird and said, ‘Man, I could’ve stopped him due to the fact he is slow’. Someone like Luka now. If you watch Luka, Luka is so freaking slow and you are like, ‘Why can not they cease that?’ When you’re artful and you understand how to play, it’s all you need,” Horry said.

Mavericks trying to get over the hump in Doncic’s fourth playoffs appearance

Despite displaying flashes of greatness, Luka Doncic has now not made it out of the Western Conference, now making his second look in the Conference Finals this season. In 2022, the Mavericks have been ousted by way of eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors, 4-1.

Since joining the Mavericks in 2018-19, the team has seemed in the playoffs 4 of six times, with their different two playoffs appearances ending in back-to-back first spherical exits in 2020 and 2021.

In 12 playoff video games this season, Doncic is producing per-game averages of 27.3 factors on 42.3% field intention shooting, with 9.7 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and 1.4 steals on forty two minutes per game.

The Mavericks open their Western Conference finals sequence on the street in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, May 22, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Should the Mavericks prevail in getting past the Timberwolves, they may additionally stand to face the Celtics, who are favored to come out of the Eastern Conference.

Diego de la Paz has lived and breathed sports during most of his life. A former song and area varsity athlete, he has had the uncommon opportunity of protecting the NBA, UFC, boxing, and professional tennis on the floor for the duration of his journalism career. He is also working as a play-by-play commentator for recreational sports leagues in his spare time.

Paul Pierce wants the comparisons between Luka Dončić and Larry Bird to end

“Bird modified the game, he made us watch basketball.”

Luka Dončić may also be on his way to becoming one of the greatest NBA gamers of all time however he’s no Larry Bird.

At least that’s what former Boston Celtics great Paul Pierce said when requested if Dončić is the next Bird.

“Can we stop with this?” Pierce stated on Undisputed. “Let’s quit with the comparisons here.”

“I suppose Luka is carving out his own niche,” Pierce continued. “He’s on his way to becoming an all-time top notch but we’re speaking about one of the top 5 or 10 players to ever play the game.

“Bird modified the game, he made us watch basketball.”

.@PaulPierce34 says STOP with the Luka & Larry Bird comparisons:

“We’re talking about one of the Top 5 or 10 players to ever play the game.” pic.twitter.com/h06BlZMjqC

— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 21, 2024

Pierce did feel like it was once fairer to examine Dončić to extraordinary NBA great, LeBron James.

“He’s the European model of LeBron James, just less athletic than LeBron,” stated Pierce. “It have to be an honor for Luka to be in the identical evaluation as Bird.”

When you ruin down their careers, it’s now not even close. Bird is genuinely the better participant and, as Pierce pointed out, was once already an NBA champion two years into his career, with various greater NBA championships and MVP trophies ahead.

Perhaps the higher evaluation is to every other Dallas Mavericks great, Dirk Nowitzki. Both came from Europe, each were scoring machines and, maybe soon, each will have championships.

[Undisputed]