Eastern Conference Finals MVP Ladder Rankings after Boston Celtics beat Pacers in Game 1

No. 1: Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum takes the number one spot with one of the most well-rounded performances of his playoffs. JT scorches the Indiana Pacers for a playoff-high 36 points, grabs 12 rebounds, and doles out four assists with three steals for good measure. The same player who became the first player since LeBron James to lead a playoff series in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

The narrative of the All-NBA forward being unable to be the best player on the floor is a tired one. He has been a winner since he arrived in the NBA, never missing the playoffs and making five Eastern Conference Finals as the lead guy.

The last five games prove he is returning to form and should be the clear frontrunner for the Larry Bird Trophy. Bird's legacy is the ghost Tatum is chasing in Boston Celtics lore.