Right now I would say:
Yeah that was the first thing I noticed too. He's making a leap right in front of our eyes. History tells us that he'll likely face a roadblock this year before bursting through but he has it all. I'd also include this years version of Harden in the #1B list. He had a tremendous regular season and somehow has the Clippers 2-2 in this series with 26ppg, 73% TS%, 7 Assists, and made a game winning play down the stretch yesterday.
Especially if Brunson is in that same group. The criteria is obviously pretty wide open, but Brunson hasn't done anything that Mitchell or Booker hasn't done, and remarkably he's the oldest of the three (barely, but still). I don't think there's anything that happens in the next couple of weeks that keeps Ant in particular out of that top group (and if Boston doesn't win the title, it will be pretty fashionable to have Ant higher than Tatum in league rankings going forward).
In all honesty I’d be surprised if Ant doesn’t leapfrog Tatum. Growth isn’t always linear and Tatum works really hard on his game but Ant really has everything and plays at a higher speed with more force. He and SGA both to me are fantastic players who need the spotlight of a finals to catch their due
Ant disappears way more than Tatum does and is a less efficient scorer. He has a way to go reach Tatum. He has a bunch of 15-4-4 unengaged games including one against Phoenix in the playoffs.
Agree completely with this. People should be talking about Ant. He has turned himself into a stud. But when Teddy is writing that Ant and SGA are fantastic players--and I agree--they're at two different levels. SGA is a top 10 player in this league, so is Tatum. Ant is more like top 20. Today. If he keeps rising like he did this year, I can absolutely imagine the conversation this time next year about who he's bumping out of the top 10.
Ant certainly could pass Tatum, but it's interesting that their growth curves have been nearly identical:
SGA is way better than Ant in pretty much all scopes of the game besides highlight reels.
Before we talk about what a leap Ant has made, it will be interesting to see how he plays against a team that plays real defense. Not saying he isn't top 20 or top 15 but he hasn't really faced what we consider a "playoff-level" defense yet and won.
It's certainly possible. The problem that he faces is that there just aren't a lot of 6'4" guys who can elevate their defense to a problematic level. He does great, and his wingspan for size is pretty damn good. But it's a 6" difference in standing reach. That matters. Edwards' advantage in athleticism will help him on the perimeter. He'll always be better than Tatum there. But Tatum is very good there and also can cover 1-5 except for the most giant 5's credibly. I'd be very surprised if any competent GM would consider trading Tatum for Edwards next year, contract status aside.
He is past the point where a good defense can constantly stymie him. His biggest problem is 25-30% of his games, he wakes and decides to be the biggest jackass in the world and plays like an asshole. Hate Tatum forcing ISO ball and making a bunch of fade away 3s, you might get that for a quarter, with Ant that is a full game. Suddenly out of no where Ant can be completely disengaged with defense at Luka like levels.
edwards can turn his defense up to a level that i think tatum can’t reach. the swithchability thing is real but i don’t think it’s such a huge factor. ant can be very disruptive when he wants to be.
I get the size thing, but he's basically the same height/weight/wingspan as Marcus Smart, and with infinitely more athleticism. He can absolutely be a problem defensively for opposing teams, even if he can't quite guard up as effectively as someone with Tatum's size.
SGA is a better scorer, but I think Ant is already better defensively, and is three years younger. The exciting thing about Ant is the same thing that has been exciting about Tatum for years - he's incredibly good while also have some very clear weaknesses, meaning there is a very visible path for improvement. I don't see SGA as having all that much growth left, and with his frame and reliance on getting to the FT line, I think his playoff ceiling is definitely lower than Ant's.
Oh yeah. He's fantastic. He's disruptive, but he's 6'4" disruptive. He can blanket 1s, cover 2s and 3s, and anyone tall is going to shoot right over him. Gobert on the backend is helping him a lot (and I'm loathe to compliment that DB).
Ant isn't a better defender. Ant can decide for a couple of minutes to lock down a guy then go back to squirreling around playing poor team defense and getting bailed out by his supporting cast. Tatum can do this too and can do it 1-5, and return to team defense. SGA is much better over the course of 48 minute game.
he bothered tatum quite a bit when they played in minnesota. i don’t think he’s a pushover in the post but i’m also going off memory from the two celtics games.
See, I think this is circular. Ewing has at least one ring if his supporting casts were as good as Olajuwon’s. KG has zero if he isn’t traded to Boston prior to his last peak season, or if a couple bounces don’t go the C’s way against the Cavs that year. Ditto for Moses if he’s never traded to Philly, or Wade if he doesn’t play alongside Shaq. Once you get past the pantheon guys on this list (post-1980, that’s Bird, Magic, Jordan, Shaq, LeBron, Curry and maybe Duncan and Kobe), there isn’t much separating the other guys from contemporaries who either didn’t have the teammates or didn’t get the bounces.
I understand your point, that situation and support matters, and in terms of all-time rankings, that is not how people would rank the Top 25 players ever or anything. I'm just pointing out that a very limited number of NBA players have been the best player on titles team, because generally the team with the best player wins a series. And there is a very small number of guys active, in their primes, at that level at the same time.
I do think Ant is a lock to be No.1 whether it be now or in the future (I think he needs a bit more maturing but I could be wrong) but I can see a world where he never gets a Championship or even to the Finals. Being in the West with Joker, the Thunder, and then Wemby doesn't leave a lot of holes.
Say what now?
If you completely ignore game 2, absolutely. Also I am not sure what framework you are going by but your statement is factually wrong any way you cut it. He has more turnovers this postseason as compared to the season but if you are talking career wise he shoots a bit better in the regular season. All that said who cares. He is really really good.
The other problem is that Ant’s supporting cast is either 1) always hurt (Towns) or 2) aging out (Gobert/Conley). And the Gobert trade of all their near-term picks will make replacing those guys very difficult so this could be a tight window for this team.
Don't think so.
Ok we are talking career not this season which is weird but ok. His rebounding, blocks, and fouls are down from his career playoff stats. Once again doesn't matter. He is still able to disappear completely for games but he is only 22 and is well on track to be the guy.
I find 15 games to be a better barometer than 4. Also I have no idea what you are even arguing
Yea it didn't matter.I find 15 games to be a better barometer than 4. Also I have no idea what you are even arguing
It's as good a shot at a title as the Wolves might have for awhile. Murray is hurt, and they match up great with Boston and Denver. Odds are always with the field, but Minnesota is GOOD.
I don't think they match up well against Boston though they got a short handed Boston to overtime twice. I would bet Boston in seven game series.
