>UPDATE:BOSTON HAS A FANTASTIC STARTING PLAYERS AND A STRONG BENCH AS WELL. SOME ARE EVEN CLAIMING THAT KRISTAPS PORZINGIS, DERRICK WHITE AND JAYLEN BROWN…

What positions do Kristaps Porzingis, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum hold in The Athletic’s player rankings?.

Yes, I am aware that Tatum isn’t at the very top of the league according to this new ranking.

Though it may seem insignificant, keep in mind that there are only six players in the elite tier: Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry.

Tatum has arguably performed better in the playoffs than both Embiid and Dončić. You might also argue that he should be at least on par with Durant after his 2022 playoff performance against the latter. And there’s this: in 74 games last season, Tatum averaged over 30 points per game—more than any other Tier 1 player. In the past four years, he has also guided Boston to three visits in the ECF and one appearance in the finals.

However, according to player-tier tabulators at The Athletic:

“Tatum appears like a Tier 1 player ninety percent of the time,” they write. However, they continue, “that 10 percent where he is below that is a problem, as he experiences spurts of poor transition defence and turnover-proneness.”

Ahh. Boston might need to win a title before national reporters start to overlook his warts the same way they do with other elite players.

“Building a team around a Tier 2 guy… requires an additional All-Star level supporting player,” the piece adds. Tatum’s performance may therefore be hampered by Brown’s presence on the squad.

Still, I’m happy if there are only six guys ranked higher than Tatum.

The other players in 2A, Devin Booker, Kawhi Leonard, and Lebron James, are far more intriguing. and Jimmy Butler.

According to the writers, Jimmy Buckets achieved this high rank by being “greater in the playoffs than over the course of the season,” not by his play during the regular season. even though in the most recent NBA Finals, he did not lead his team in scoring.

It’s an option.

Every other person on this list is either a past MVP winner or a serious contender. But in terms of points, rebounds, and blocks per game, Tatum lead the team. Compared to the others, he has a higher VORP and has played more games. The only other player to make the first team All-NBA last season is him. At 25, he is also the crew’s youngest member.

Furthermore, the only players in 2A who you could argue have not reached their prime are Tatum and Booker. These two are positioned to move up into the elite group as the league’s top players age.

This is noted in the article, which refers to the contrast as “the most interesting ‘who ya got?’ argument to be had in the league.” Since every athlete has improved with each passing season and still has room to improve, the discussion is well worth it. Both have guided teams to finals visits without winning the championship, and they have gone up and down the MVP ladder.

Even though I adore Jaylen Brown, it’s difficult to disagree with this ranking. Donovan Mitchell, Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Edwards, De’Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo, and Jaren Jackson Jr. are his 3A peers. Though these guys are really evenly matched, I’d rank him around the top of the group, perhaps just below Mitchell.

James Harden, Paul George, and Jamal Murray are the only players ranked higher than Brown at 2C that could also be argued to be ranked lower than Brown. Given Harden’s offseason antics, the writers claim that if they hadn’t been locked in weeks earlier, they would have ranked Harden lower. Although Brown is now superior to Paul George, I would choose Brown due to age and injury worries. Murray, who finished as the Nuggets’ second-best player while winning a championship, merits a promotion.