Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Snubbed on Top Five NBA Duos List
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report gave Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown an honorable mention on his list of the NBA’s top 5 best duos. Here are the full results:
5. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
4. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
3. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
1. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
For the 2022-2023 season, Tatum placed fourth in voting for the Most Valuable Player award, and Brown was selected to the All-NBA Second Team.
Swartz provided an explanation for their underwhelming ranking.
“Even with six years of experience and a trip to the NBA Finals together, Tatum and Brown fell short of cracking the top five here.
Brown's EPM score of plus-2.6 ranked just 46th overall in the NBA, and the two stars combined for a modest plus-5.2 net rating in 3,376 total possessions together, which was actually lower than Boston's overall net of plus-6.9.
Both are still improving and should be tied to each other for years to come with Brown's new monster deal and another coming for Tatum next summer, although some overlapping skills hold them back from the league's elite here.”
It’s arguable that Swartz’ evaluation of the Mavericks’ duo is misjudged. For instance, a starting lineup consisting of Irving and Doncic lost 11 out of 16 games last season.
Also, the assertion that “Irving should also be happy and motivated after signing a three-year, $126 million contract” doesn’t correlate with true human psychology, as job security diminishes a need for higher production rates. The contract year phenomenon suggests that a player’s efficiency rating decreases after signing a new contract and increases during its year of expiration.
Overall, Doncic and Irving’s fifth-place ranking is based on potential success, rather than on recent performance. No speculation is necessary, as the Mavericks' superstars have experience playing together, which differs from the untested pairing of Kristaps Porzingis and Tatum.
This strengthens the argument for Tatum and Brown to be considered among the top five duos in the NBA.
Further Reading
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After Jaylen Brown's Extension, Could Celtics Complete Blockbuster Deal for Damian Lillard?
Jaylen Brown Doesn't Want Celtics' Defensive Identity to 'Go Out the Door' With Marcus Smart
Jaylen Brown Wants Record-Setting Contract with Celtics to Spark Revolutionary Goals
Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement
Sam Cassell Discusses What Brought Him Back to Boston and What He'll Bring to the Celtics
Marcus Smart Reflects on His Time with Celtics: 'I Left Everything I Had'
