It doesn’t matter whether the Celtics’ best player is Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown

Playing David Ruffin in the 1998 miniseries “The Temptations,” actor Leon delivered this classic line with heartache and malice. He was right as the lead singer arguing with the background singer, but he missed Otis Williams’ point: fans bought tickets to see the group.

Until the singer (inevitably?) leaves and starts a solo profession, the only thing that matters is the group.

Unlike in the music industry, playing solo is unattainable in team sports. However, basketball teams at all times have a pacesetter who is considered the team’s best player. The nod in Boston has gone to Jayson Tatum for the five seasons since Kyrie Irving left. Jaylen Brown, drafted a 12 months before Tatum, is almost unanimously ranked second in the Celtics hierarchy. The two Jays combined so seamlessly that they reached their second NBA Finals in three years.

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd tried to sow discord before Game 2 by discussing Brown’s defensive strategy. “Well, Jaylen is their best player….” Kidd said Saturday, listing the attributes that helped Brown win the Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors. “He did everything and that’s what your best player does.”

Kidd shares the minority opinion based on Tatum’s advantage over Brown in All-NBA selections (4-1 overall and 3-0 in the starting lineup). But Kidd doesn’t need to consider his assessment; he simply needs it to influence certainly one of Boston’s teammates to deal with playing for one team reasonably than playing as a team. The mind game didn’t work as Boston won Sunday’s game for a 2-0 series lead heading into Wednesday’s Game 3.

I can not blame Kidd for attempting to cause a rift. It doesn’t need to cause real conflict between teammates, like the disunity between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant on the Lakersor Irving and LeBron James on Cleveland Cavaliers. It could be enough to persuade Tatum to take into consideration proving he’s the top dog in Boston.

I assume the coach must try again.

“We all played a role in getting to where we are and we understand that people are trying to drive a wedge between us.” Tatum said. “I think it’s a smart thing to do or try to do. We have been in this situation for many years and guys are trying to divide us and say that one of us should be replaced or that one of us is better than the other. So this isn’t our first time at the rodeo.”

Sports

Indeed, that they had competed in so many rodeos – reaching the Eastern Conference Finals not less than six times in the last eight seasons – that we wondered in the event that they would ever win the top prize. After posting a league-best regular season record and going 14-2 in the playoffs, Boston is halfway to a long-awaited achievement that shall be Boston’s 18th overall and first since 2008.

Blessed with the presence of 2021 NBA champion Jrue Holiday and 17-year veteran Al Horford (playing in his first NBA Finals), the Celtics want everyone to eat – no matter who gets the greater piece of chicken.

“We were very focused on our roles and responsibilities.” Brown said. “We all had to make sacrifices. At this point, anything is enough to win. And we cannot allow any outside interpretations to try to come between us.”

After Holiday led Boston to victory in Game 2, he clarified comments that some interpreted as consistent with Kidd. “The way (Tatum and Brown) play together and how they work together is something sacred and something that cannot be broken.” Holiday said. “I do not prefer one or the other. I prefer each. They are each superstars and it should be shown here on the biggest stage in the world.

Tatum is No. 1 statistically but Brown is at the top of funds, he owns the NBA the biggest contract. Maybe he may also be a league player the smartest player, which caused scouts to fret that the Cal-Berkely student-athlete would turn out to be tired of hoops. (He wasn’t smart enough to avoid Kanye West’s sports agency, but that is one other matter.)

Brown was a beast as Boston defeated Indiana to achieve the finals, where he led the team in scoring with 21.5 points per game. Tatum comfortably leads the Celtics in rebounds (10.0) and assists (8.5) on this series and throughout the postseason. Even though I’m beginning to hate Boston again after Nia Long’s disappearance, I have to admit that these companions complement one another in a multi-faceted lineup.

Sports discussions aim to settle disputes equivalent to whether Boston’s best player is Tatum or Brown. The answer is irrelevant so long as neither of them cares and what matters most to them is winning. Unlike Otis from “The Temptations,” Tatum and Brown can ensure that they’re the most important stars.

Celtics fans come to see them each.