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Felger & Mazz

Gasper: We don’t need Jayson Tatum trying to prove he’s the MVP

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Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum was asked recently on who he thinks is the best player in the NBA. With Tatum answering that he was the best, there has been a lot of talk about Tatum and being the NBA regular season MVP. On Friday’s Felger and Mazz, Chris Gasper joined the guys and discussed Tatum and NBA MVP talks.

 

The Boston Celtics just need to keep playing the way they’ve been playing…

Mazz: Point is, he’s become a more efficient player because he has better pieces around him. The assists have gone up, the turnovers have gone down. The shots have gone down. I like what I’ve seen from Tatum this year. For the most part, I like what I’ve seen from Jaylen Brown. I think his game is improved too. And Porzingis and Holiday are the new guys, so by definition they’re going to come in and not be greedy. You know they’re going to come in and be a little more careful. The one guy who’s really gained more than anybody is Derrick White. Who, by the way, deserves it because he’s a consummate team player, never says anything, and is now scoring more and getting some recognition that he’s probably deserved for a long, long time. So that part of it I’m okay with. I was just curious as to whether you thought Tatum is impressionable. He’s impressionable. So it’s a good point, Chris, if they start chirping with this stuff, it can get in his head. And I would say overall they’ve been in a good place. He’s been in a good place. Don’t f with it.

Chris Gasper: Like that’s exactly the way I feel. Don’t mess with it. Like we don’t need to interject this. We don’t need him out there trying to become the face of the league or trying to prove that he’s the MVP. Like, just play the way you’ve been playing. You’re the best team in the league. It’s fitting together seamlessly. It’s working great. They’re a joy to watch. Let’s not get distracted by this other stuff that doesn’t really matter. Like when you look at it, Kobe Bryant, right? Kobe Bryant only won one MVP, which to me is a travesty that he only won one. But do you think he would give up any of his championships to any of his five titles for another MVP? Do you think Steve Nash would give up his two MVP’s for one championship? I mean, come on.

 

 

Kevin Maggiore has been producing on the Felger & Mazz program since January of 2022 and has been producing with 98.5 The Sports Hub since 2018. Kevin also produces New England Patriots broadcasts on The Sports Hub and has produced Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins broadcasts in the past. Kevin grew up in Saugus, Massachusetts and is still in the area today. A lifelong hockey fan, Kevin collects hockey jerseys and has over 100 jerseys in his collection. Kevin loves spending his time away from the office on the golf course. Kevin writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.

Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!

Mazz' Tiers: Ranking the best players in the NBA this season

On Thursday’s Felger & Mazz radio program, Tony Massarotti ranked the best current players in the National Basketball Association.

 

Before we get to “Mazz’ Tiers” of current NBA players, let’s look at some news and notes from around the Association…

  • All-Star Weekend wrapped up Sunday concluding with the NBA All-Star Game. The contest reverted back to the original East vs. West format. The underdog East walked away with a victory over the West, 122-186. Damian Lillard earned the Kobe Bryant All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award.
  • Prior to the All-Star Game, Saturday night featured the Association’s signature Three-Point and Slam Dunk Contests. G-Leaguer Mac McClung defended his Slam Dunk title by winning the competition in the final round over Boston Celtics swingman Jaylen Brown. McClung sealed the victory with a flashy dunk over Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.
  • Damian Lillard’s other piece of hardware from this past weekend includes the Three-Point Contest trophy. The Milwaukee point guard edged out Trae Young in the final round for the win.
  • The NBA tried something new with a “battle of the sexes” type competition between Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry and WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu. The two battled in a Three-Point competition to see who could hit more buckets in an allotted period of time. Along with Curry, Ionescu shot from the NBA 3-point line, a mark that is roughly a foot-and-a-half further to the basket from the WNBA line.
  • Curry narrowly defeated Ionescu, 29 to 26 points. Ionescu’s 26 would’ve placed her in the Three-Point Competition final if she had been competing with the rest of the field.
  • The NBA returns to regularly scheduled action Thursday night, including the Boston Celtics, who take on the Chicago Bulls from the United Center. Tip-off set for 8 p.m. EST.

 

Now, here are Tony Massarotti’s best players currently in the NBA…

  • Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Lakers - Game Four

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 22: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a foul during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in game four of the Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena on May 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

     

    TIER 1

    Nikola Jokic

    Jayson Tatum

    Anthony Edwards

    Luka Doncic

    Joel Embiid

  • BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a three pointer against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

    BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a three pointer against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

     

    TIER 2

    Stephen Curry

    Giannis Antetokounmpo

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

    Donovan Mitchell

    Jimmy Butler

  • 2020 NBA Finals - Game Six

    LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

     

    TIER 3

    Kawhi Leonard

    LeBron James

    Kevin Durant

    Jalen Brunson

    De’Aaron Fox

  • Segment Audio

  • Ryan Beaton is a producer for 985thesportshub.com. You can follow Ryan at @ry_beaton on Twitter.

    Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!

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