Jayson Tatum’s early MVP buzz has one big problem attached to it: Mitchell Robinson.
Tatum has opened the 2026-27 season looking like himself again in almost every way except one - the three-point shot. Even with that slump, he’s still putting up huge numbers and forcing his way into the too-early MVP discussion. But the numbers get weird fast once you look at his on/off splits, because the Celtics have actually been better with Tatum off the floor through seven games.
Boston owns a +4.4 net rating with Tatum on the court and a +5.3 net rating when he sits. That doesn’t line up with what anyone expects from a player of Tatum’s caliber, and the deeper dive points straight at Robinson.
In 159 minutes this season with Tatum on the floor and Robinson off it, the Celtics have been dominant. Their net rating jumps to +17.1, with an offensive rating of 125.5 - good for the best mark in the league - and a defensive rating of 108.3, which would rank in the top five.
The story flips completely when the two share the court. In 87 minutes together, Boston’s net rating crashes to -19.6. The offense falls all the way to 93.7, which would be the worst in the league by a mile, and the defense slips to 113.3.
Robinson’s impact shows up even more clearly in Tatum’s individual production. With Robinson on the floor, Tatum is averaging 17.8 points, 6.6 assists and 5.8 rebounds per 36 minutes, along with 5.8 free-throw attempts and 39% true shooting. Without Robinson, those numbers soar to 33.1 points, 8.8 assists and 6.3 rebounds per 36, plus 12.5 free-throw attempts and 62.8% true shooting.
That gap is massive. With Robinson out there, Tatum has looked more like a productive but inefficient supporting piece. Without him, he’s been playing like an MVP-level force.
This isn’t all on Robinson, but the bottom line is that his play has dragged down everyone around him. The Celtics have been bad when he’s on the floor and elite when he isn’t. He needs time to adjust to his new situation and get into shape, but that window is closing.
He’s hurting Tatum’s MVP case, and he’s hurting the Celtics. The hope is still there, but right now it’s only hope. If it doesn’t turn into real production soon, he needs to be out of the rotation.
In Other News...
Kristaps Porzingis Situation Just Took A Serious Turn
Kristaps Porzingis situation has taken an unexpected and serious turn, with Golden State withholding his $20 million salary while citing that he is not rendering services because of an ongoing illness. For a player whose health has been a recurring concern, the latest development adds another layer of uncertainty to a career that has already been shaped by injuries and interruptions.
Porzingis has not disputed the decision, and the bigger question now is what comes next for a contract that Golden State is trying to move before the February trade deadline. The Warriors are actively exploring trade options, while Porzingis is reportedly leaning toward retirement, leaving his future as unsettled as the teams plans for him. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Browns Early 76ers Comments Will Sting Celtics Fans
Jaylen Brown is still settling into life in Philadelphia, and his first public comments about the 76ers gave Celtics fans plenty to chew on. In a postgame press conference, Brown pointed to Tyrese Maxey as the player leading the way while saying he is still finding his footing with his new team, a notable shift for someone who spent so much of his career in Boston as part of the Jayson Tatum-Brown core.
For Celtics fans, the remark lands with an extra edge because Brown was long viewed as one half of the franchises top duo, and now he is adjusting to a different locker room dynamic entirely. Whether the comment reads as a humbled acknowledgment of his new surroundings or something a little sharper is open to interpretation, but it is the kind of early-season quote that tends to linger when two teams with recent history are involved. [Read more 🡒]
Jayson Tatum Just Put His Finger On Bostons Early Problem
The Celtics are only seven games into the 2026-27 season, but the early signs have already pointed to a familiar problem on the glass. After the loss to the Rockets, Jayson Tatum singled out offensive rebounding and the extra possessions it creates as an area Boston has to clean up, a reminder that even a talented roster can get dragged into uncomfortable games when it does not finish possessions.
Boston brought in Mitchell Robinson to help solve some of those issues, yet the rebounding picture has not settled the way the club hoped. Robinsons impact on the offensive boards has trended down, and the Celtics have also been lagging near the bottom of the league in defensive rebounding percentage, leaving the team with an early-season concern that could keep showing up until it gets fixed. [Read more 🡒]