{"id":113644,"date":"2024-12-23T07:41:50","date_gmt":"2024-12-23T12:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=113644"},"modified":"2024-12-23T11:15:22","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T16:15:22","slug":"jayson-tatum-is-the-nbas-best-system-yet-still-undervalued","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/23\/jayson-tatum-is-the-nbas-best-system-yet-still-undervalued\/","title":{"rendered":"Jayson Tatum Is The NBA\u2019s Best System Yet Still Undervalued"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> is not just a system player; he is the system. Yes, that statement might sound <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hardeja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">James Harden<\/a>-esque, but it&#8217;s true. The best system in the league is built around him. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/10\/09\/celtics-lose-valuable-trade-exceptions\/\" target=\"_self\">Boston Celtics<\/a> are the defending champions and the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/12\/celtics-primed-repeat-nba-champions\/\" target=\"_self\">odds-on favorites<\/a> to repeat, yet Tatum remains undervalued and underrated.<\/p>\n<h2>Jayson Tatum Is The NBA\u2019s Best System Yet Still Undervalued<\/h2>\n<h3>Tatum\u2019s Historic Performance Proves His Greatness<\/h3>\n<p>On Saturday, Tatum <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/game\/BOS-vs-CHI-0022400381\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">delivered<\/a> a historic performance against the Chicago Bulls, further cementing his status as the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/20\/boston-celtics-potential-trade-candidate-jaden-springer\/\" target=\"_self\">Celtics<\/a>\u2019 cornerstone. Tatum recorded 43 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming the first Celtic to log such a stat line. He also joined <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/birdla01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Larry Bird<\/a> as the only Celtics to <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/nba\/ask\/larry-bird-40-point-triple-double-game-log\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">record<\/a> a 40-point triple-double. Bird accomplished this feat three times, highlighting the rarity of Tatum\u2019s achievement.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jayson Tatum\u2019s DOMINANT TRIPLE-DOUBLE Performance in the CHI! \ud83d\ude24| December 21, 2024\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VJpCdo-pNEw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Tatum was unstoppable, shooting 16-for-24 from the field and hitting nine of his 15 three-point attempts. His performance marked his <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/nba\/ask?q=jayson+tatum+last+triple-double\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fourth<\/a> career triple-double, adding to his playoff heroics against the Miami Heat last April. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Tatum for his ability to dominate without disrupting the team\u2019s flow.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI think any time you see a guy play like that, you\u2019re just kind of fascinated by it, but I feel like he did it within the flow of the game,\u201d Mazzulla <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NoaDalzell\/status\/1870674119249064395?t=oz7gGuuroC3WgHcdhN4ypg&amp;s=19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a>. \u201cI don\u2019t think he went outside of what we normally do, and that\u2019s a testament to him.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>The NBA\u2019s Best System is Built Around Jayson Tatum<\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/30\/derrick-white-payton-pritchard-stats\/\" target=\"_self\">Celtics<\/a> have built a system around Tatum that consistently delivers elite results. Yet despite being the most talented player on the most talented team in years, Tatum remains undervalued in the <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/kia-mvp-ladder-dec-20-2024-edition\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MVP<\/a> conversation.<\/p>\n<p>His <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/stats\/player\/1628369\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">averages<\/a> this season\u201428.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists on 60.6% true shooting\u2014speak volumes about his impact. These numbers showcase his ability to score efficiently, rebound effectively, and facilitate offense at a high level. His dominance, however, has not translated into recognition in the MVP race. Mazzulla believes Tatum\u2019s consistent greatness might work against him.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI still think he gets taken for granted,\u201d Mazzulla <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NoaDalzell\/status\/1870674119249064395?t=oz7gGuuroC3WgHcdhN4ypg&amp;s=19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a>. \u201cBecause he\u2019s done it for a long time, it comes relatively easy for him, and we\u2019re in Boston, so that\u2019s the expectation.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Undervalued in the MVP Race<\/h3>\n<p>The <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/insider\/story\/_\/id\/43060049\/nba-mvp-straw-poll-where-jokic-giannis-sga-more-stars-rank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>ESPN<\/em> MVP straw poll<\/a> highlights the glaring undervaluation of Tatum. Through one-third of the season, he ranks fourth, far behind <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokicni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikola Jok<\/a>ic, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gilgesh01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/antetgi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>. While Tatum has three fewer votes than Giannis (95 to 98), his total points in the poll lag significantly, with just 267 compared to Giannis&#8217; 643.<\/p>\n<p>This gap underscores the challenges Tatum faces in gaining recognition. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/20\/nikola-jokic-fourth-mvp\/\" target=\"_self\">Jokic<\/a>, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Antetokounmpo have received 82.6% of the total vote, leaving little room for other contenders. Even <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/18\/accountability-and-star-power-powering-giannis-and-lillard\/\" target=\"_self\">Antetokounmpo\u2019s<\/a> NBA Cup final performance shifted votes away from Tatum, further highlighting the narrow margins in the MVP race.<\/p>\n<h3>The Case for More Recognition<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/18\/jayson-tatums-historic-durability\/\" target=\"_self\">Tatum\u2019s<\/a> value to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/15\/3-celtics-players-are-now-eligible-to-be-traded\/\" target=\"_self\">Celtics<\/a> cannot be overstated. His ability to excel on both ends of the court makes him indispensable. Despite this, the MVP conversation seems to overlook his contributions. His complete game\u2014scoring, rebounding, and facilitating\u2014mirrors the dominance of past MVP winners.<\/p>\n<p>Tatum\u2019s greatness lies in his consistency and willingness to adapt. His 43-point triple-double against the Bulls showcased his ability to dominate without sacrificing team play. In fact, his dominance leads to the Celtics playing their best basketball.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Mazzulla emphasized this point, <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NoaDalzell\/status\/1870674119249064395?t=oz7gGuuroC3WgHcdhN4ypg&amp;s=19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">saying<\/a>, \u201cI thought he kind of controlled the entire game with his poise and decision-making, and took what the defense gave him.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Yet, Tatum\u2019s brilliance remains underappreciated. His presence enables the Celtics to function as the league\u2019s best system. While other stars receive more MVP buzz, Tatum continues to deliver performances that elevate his team and rewrite Celtics&#8217; history.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p>Tatum is the NBA\u2019s best player on the best team and one of its most complete stars. His historic performances, leadership, and consistency make him invaluable to the Celtics. Yet the MVP race and straw poll results show how his greatness is taken for granted. As the season progresses, Tatum\u2019s case for MVP should gain traction. His numbers, impact, and ability to elevate the Celtics demand recognition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jayson Tatum is not just a system player; he is the system. Yes, that statement might sound James Harden-esque, but it&#8217;s true. The best system in the league is built around him. The Boston Celtics are the defending champions and the odds-on favorites to repeat, yet Tatum remains undervalued and underrated. Jayson Tatum Is The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":113689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,5],"tags":[49979,979,444,798,4865,455,564],"class_list":["post-113644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-celtics","tag-2024-25-nba-season","tag-espn","tag-james-harden","tag-jayson-tatum","tag-joe-mazzulla","tag-larry-bird","tag-nba-mvp"],"modified_by":"Eamon Cassels, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113644"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113692,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113644\/revisions\/113692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}