Which Celtics player would most deserve the Larry Bird East finals MVP?

The award could realistically end up being fittingly given to a Celtics player — but who has the best claim on it if they do win?

The very first Larry Bird Eastern Conference finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award could very conceivably end up being awarded to a member of the team that Hall of Famer played for with the Boston Celtics currently up 3-2 over the Miami Heat in the 2022 Eastern Conference finals.

But as poetic as that might end up being, there has to be a specific Celtics player to award it to in a series that has seen several Boston players make major contributions. All-NBA star swingman Jayson Tatum has been the team’s defensive engine for all but one contest, and fellow star forward Jaylen Brown a critical source of points as well. Big men Al Horford and Robert Williams III have both been key defensive backstops, while veteran point guard Marcus Smart an absolute warrior playing through not one but two sprains at the same time.

Which Celtics starter most deserves the award, should Boston be in a position to win it?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast recently debated this contentious issue with comedian and Celtics fan Gary Gulman. There’s certainly more than one good option — which argument do you favor?

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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