People say the great teams have a superstar. But who is the Celtics?

[Neal Romer]

They do not have a superstar. Nobody on their team is a top 10 player.

And yet they won a title last year and could go back to back.

The question is, are you going to:

A) Rethink the credos you recite and consider adapting your viewpoint

or

B) Refuse to have your talking points challenged and insist Tatum is a superstar so you dont have to expend any neural energy seeing something a different way?


Im honestly curious. And this is not a Tatum hate thread. It's not the point. Hes a good, valuable player. Just like a lot of guys. But hes clearly not a superstar, and in truth nobody on Boston is. So what happens to the talking point about great teams and superstars?

[Neal Romer]

I am open to the possibility that Derrick White could elevate himself to superstar status if he plays like he did tonight thru the remainder of the playoffs.

[Mask the Embiid]

They are the modern day version of the mid 2000's pistons. Great for their fanbase but just a very terrible viewing experience for the rest of us watching at home. This might be another one of them finals i skip

[warriorfan]

Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are then most underrated players it seems.

Maybe they are regarded higher now but throughout their career they were always a lot better than perceived by most people, in my opinion at least

[Proctor]

White is what brings them from perennial ECF threat to perennial championship threat.

[GOBB]

Tatum is a superstar. What are we talking about here?

[Wardell Curry]

White is what brings them from perennial ECF threat to perennial championship threat.

White + Holiday

Porzingis is what then pushes them all the way to likely repeating and potentially threepeating.

It's a stacked ass starting lineup that we haven't seen since 2004.

[ImKobe]

Tatum is a superstar. What are we talking about here?

Is Devin Booker a superstar?

[StrongLurk]

Tatum was just good enough to be a superstar this regular season. Still not sure about the playoffs.

However modern great teams don't NEED a superstar. The Celtics are the best analytically created team of all time. This is because they have a bunch of two way players who can all shoot/make plays, play great defense, and also play high IQ ball. They are clearly coached/schemed well too. They are just a more analytically driven version of the 2013/2014 Spurs.

These Celtics would beat the 2011-2014 Heat, the Kobe/Shaq Lakers, and the 90's Bulls.

[SouBeachTalents]

White + Holiday

Porzingis is what then pushes them all the way to likely repeating and potentially threepeating.

It's a stacked ass starting lineup that we haven't seen since 2004.
Yeah, definitely didn't see a team this stacked from 2017-2019.

[SouBeachTalents]

As for the OP, 9 times out of 10 the best teams have a superstar/top 5 player, but there are exceptions to the rule like the '04 Pistons, '14 Spurs, and the current Celtics. Tatum is at minimum in argument for that label, though I concede he often doesn't live up to it in the playoffs.

[Wardell Curry]

Yeah, definitely didn't see a team this stacked from 2017-2019.

Who was the 5th? 5th aside, Klay wasn't Klay during those runs. Durant even went down with injury.

This team has 5 guys in the prime of their careers.

But yes the Warriors were stupid.

[warriorfan]

I still don’t understand how this Boston team is possible. Do they have to make big changes next year??

[Wardell Curry]

I still don’t understand how this Boston team is possible. Do they have to make big changes next year??

Probably not although this may be Horford's last year.

https://i.postimg.cc/HxwZDHrV/Screenshot-2025-04-20-194819.png

After 2026 they will, however. Porzingis will be gone or they will go insane with the contracts.

[90sgoat]

Porzingis has the most aura.

[FKAri]

Is Devin Booker a superstar?

Tatum > Booker at everything except shooting a mid range pull up coming off a pindown.

[Wally450]

Tatum is a superstar. What are we talking about here?

This. People don't like Tatum and that's fine, but he's the superstar of the team.

[Wardell Curry]

If you trade Booker for Tatum I assure you the team records would be virtually identical.

Celtics might lose a few more due to defensive falloff but I'm not sure the Suns would win any more.

[Neal Romer]

This. People don't like Tatum and that's fine, but he's the superstar of the team.


But he doesnt play like one in the playoffs.

Superstar may be a regular season thing to some, but it's not to me.

To each their own.

[Meticode]

Tatum is a superstar. He's been in the Top 6 of MVP voting the last four years, has a championship and will make his 4th consecutive All-NBA 1st team.

Also, Tatum > Booker

[iamgine]

Depending on your definition but Tatum to me is definitely top 10 this season.

[Neal Romer]

Tatum is a superstar. He's been in the Top 6 of MVP voting the last four years, has a championship and will make his 4th consecutive All-NBA 1st team.


But he doesnt impress in the playoffs.

So I guess we think of the word 'superstar' in different ways.

Which is ok.

[Full Court]

They do not have a superstar. Nobody on their team is a top 10 player.

And yet they won a title last year and could go back to back.

The question is, are you going to:

A) Rethink the credos you recite and consider adapting your viewpoint

or

B) Refuse to have your talking points challenged and insist Tatum is a superstar so you dont have to expend any neural energy seeing something a different way?


Im honestly curious. And this is not a Tatum hate thread. It's not the point. Hes a good, valuable player. Just like a lot of guys. But hes clearly not a superstar, and in truth nobody on Boston is. So what happens to the talking point about great teams and superstars?

Tatum is arguably a top 10 player.

But what about the Cavs? What stars do they have? Mitchell?

[ImKobe]

Tatum is a superstar. He's been in the Top 6 of MVP voting the last four years, has a championship and will make his 4th consecutive All-NBA 1st team.

Also, Tatum > Booker

And those accolades are based on team success as Booker was also 1st team All-NBA and top 5 MVP voting when the Suns had a better roster around him. That's my point. Tatum's capable of having great games but his consistency ain't on a superstar level for this era. Too many nights where he's not the best/most important player on his team and this was also the case when Booker played with CP3 when Chris Paul was the engine for that team and was their best player in their Finals run. Tatum's the best overall player on one of the best teams in the league but he's nowhere near SGA/Luka level from night to night, so to me he's in the group with guys like Brunson, Cade & Mitchell and not close to Giannis/SGA/Jokic/Luka.

[Axe]

And those accolades are based on team success as Booker was also 1st team All-NBA and top 5 MVP voting when the Suns had a better roster around him. That's my point. Tatum's capable of having great games but his consistency ain't on a superstar level for this era. Too many nights where he's not the best/most important player on his team and this was also the case when Booker played with CP3 when Chris Paul was the engine for that team and was their best player in their Finals run. Tatum's the best overall player on one of the best teams in the league but he's nowhere near SGA/Luka level from night to night, so to me he's in the group with guys like Brunson, Cade & Mitchell and not close to Giannis/SGA/Jokic/Luka.
Regardless, ingraham has a lot of catching up to do with him.

Btw, the homosexual prick above you is a deepthroating casual.

[Neal Romer]

Tatum is arguably a top 10 player.

But what about the Cavs? What stars do they have? Mitchell?

Mitchell is not really a superstar either. Hes a perennial all star like Tatum.

If you want words like 'superstar' and 'elite' to mean something then IMO you should apply them to guys like Bron, Joker, SGA, Giannis, Luka, Ant, and prime healthy versions of Steph, KD, Kawhi. And probably no one else.

Tatum and Mitchell are a clear tier below those guys I believe. Do you not think so?

Maybe you guys see their pictures on a graphic opposite Bron or KD in a matchup preview and your brain equates them as being in the same tier. It's human nature. I feel like you guys think each team's best player is a superstar. Thats just not how it is.

The Celtics dont win because of Tatum's greatness. An ordinary team WOULD NOT win because of Tatum's greatness. So how is he a superstar?

[JohnnySic]

If you want words like 'superstar' and 'elite' to mean something then IMO you should apply them to guys like Bron, Joker, SGA, Giannis, Luka, Ant, and prime healthy versions of Steph, KD, Kawhi. And probably no one else.



Your argument goes into the toilet if you're prepared to argue that Edwards is better than Tatum. Players like Jokic, Giannis, Prime LeBron, etc are indeed a notch above Tatum. And that's OK. Tatum is a 2nd-tier superstar. He's a superstar nonetheless.

[tpols]

Tatum is a superstar. He's been in the Top 6 of MVP voting the last four years, has a championship and will make his 4th consecutive All-NBA 1st team.

Also, Tatum > Booker

Steve Kerr played Booker over peak Tatum on the Olympic team and started Book at the 3... which is more of Tatums natural position in the 1st place. Why would he do that if Tatum is better?

Booker has had playoff series wheres he's put up numbers better than MJ, no exaggeration. Chris Paul also cost him a lead dog title in 2021.

[Neal Romer]

..


Location: Boston, MA

[Full Court]

Regardless, ingraham has a lot of catching up to do with him.

Btw, the homosexual prick above you is a deepthroating casual.


What an autistic bitch fit. :roll:


Stinky boy is extra upset because Curry put on a masterclass last night.

Meanwhile, LeShrivel continues choking.

Weepy biatch.

:lebroncry:

[Neal Romer]

Steve Kerr played Booker over peak Tatum on the Olympic team and started Book at the 3... which is more of Tatums natural position in the 1st place. Why would he do that if Tatum is better?

Booker has had playoff series wheres he's put up numbers better than MJ, no exaggeration. Chris Paul also cost him a lead dog title in 2021.

Exactly.

Tatum couldnt get minutes over Edwards, Booker, or Derrick White under a neutral coach when the chips were down.

This isnt 'the local treatment' where you have to overpay the guy all the fans love and let him chuck however much he wants and pretend hes a superstar. Or the media sends him to the 1st team All NBA bc hes got nice regular season stats and great teammates helping him win and the voters default to popular opinion.

True basketball impact was prioritized and Tatum was the guy left out.

[Wardell Curry]

You know the NBA has fallen off hard when Tatum is considered an MVP candidate and superstar, lol.

Jokes aside, being serious?

American born NBA stars are drying up by the year.

I think the average NBA player is now far more skilled than 30 years ago but the American born stars themselves are fading away.

[ILLsmak]

Is Devin Booker a superstar?

he would be if his teams were consistently winning 60 and contending for a ring haha.

Tatum is trash, but he's a superstar. He's just prone to jacking 21 foot step backs when the going gets tough. I have a hard time believing they can actually beat a team that is close to as good as they are in a series. If they can shoot 40% from 3 for a series, on the other hand, I think they are a top team of all time haha. I just don't think they will vs a really good team.

-Smak

[Axe]

You know the NBA has fallen off hard when Tatum is considered an MVP candidate and superstar, lol.

Jokes aside, being serious?

American born NBA stars are drying up by the year.

I think the average NBA player is now far more skilled than 30 years ago but the American born stars themselves are fading away.
True. There are a lot of talented players today compared to three decades ago. But here we have some braindead casuals that lack self-awareness and love to contradict themselves by saying that it was better way back then because defenses were supposedly 'better'. Yet they're the very same fools who still continue watching the league nowadays. (https://i.ibb.co/JmpGnKz/IMG-20230528-095117.jpg)

[Full Court]

You know the NBA has fallen off hard when Tatum is considered an MVP candidate and superstar, lol.

Jokes aside, being serious?

American born NBA stars are drying up by the year.

I think the average NBA player is now far more skilled than 30 years ago but the American born stars themselves are fading away.

Players 30 years ago would have looked a lot more skilled if they were allowed to carry and travel.

[Meticode]

Steve Kerr played Booker over peak Tatum on the Olympic team and started Book at the 3... which is more of Tatums natural position in the 1st place. Why would he do that if Tatum is better?

Booker has had playoff series wheres he's put up numbers better than MJ, no exaggeration. Chris Paul also cost him a lead dog title in 2021.

Kerr makes questionable decisions that being one of them. He also played a 10-man rotation the first month or two of the season like an idiot.

Also, it's been stated that Booker's offensive game is more adaptable to the FIBA rules. Doesn't mean Booker is outright better. And I don't think he is.

[MMM]

Players 30 years ago would have looked a lot more skilled if they were allowed to carry and travel.

Im old enough to remember when this argument was used against 90 and early 00s players vs older era players. So i dont find it a compelling argument and mostly comes out of nostalgia. While recency bias is also a factor in the opposite direction. The game evolves and different skills are utilized, so it never made sense to me to compare across different generations.