“Got a little more MJ in him” — Skip Bayless on why he thinks Jaylen Brown is “a little better” than Jayson Tatum
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum
© Winslow Townson - USA TODAY Sports
Skip Bayless is one of the most polarizing, if not controversial, sports analysts on TV. Anything he says should be taken with a grain of salt. One of his most recent takes about the Boston Celtics' star duo might raise some eyebrows, considering that it contradicts what many believe.
Why Skip is wrong
The common sentiment is that Jayson Tatum is better than Jaylen Brown, and the only argument really is not if Tatum is better but how much better he is. Most stats and advanced metrics show that Tatum is the better and more complete player.
A debate can be made that Brown is a more efficient scorer, given that he is a few percentages better in terms of field goal percentage. However, their true shooting percentages, which take 3-point and free-throw efficiencies into account, are almost identical.
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And as Bayless alluded to, Brown seems to have more of an edge or "killer" instinct on the court. But the jury's out on that assertion, considering how confident Tatum has become, even going as far as to say, "I feel like I'm the best player when I step on the court."
Why it doesn't matter
The thing is, who the better player is doesn't matter for the Celtics. What's important for the franchise is that it believes the duo is capable of bringing Boston to the promised land.
Together, Tatum and Brown have helped the franchise advance to three conference finals. And last season, they reached the Finals, where they were two games away from winning the title.
It has been 15 years since the Celts won a championship. Can they change that this season? The odds are certainly in their favor.
