The Boston Celtics remain near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and Kendrick Perkins believes they do not need Jayson Tatum to make another NBA Finals run.
Speaking on First Take, the former NBA champion made a direct claim about his former team’s ceiling.
“They can go to the NBA Finals without [Jayson] Tatum. … They are the most dangerous team in the NBA because they have zero expectations,” Perkins said.
Tatum has not played since tearing his Achilles in Game 4 of last year’s second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. His recovery remains ongoing, and the All-NBA forward has said he is taking his rehab day-by-day.
Despite his absence and the offseason departures of Al Horford, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, Boston is 36-19 and second in the East. The group sits six games behind Detroit and is 18-9 at home.
From a basketball standpoint, the Celtics have compensated with depth, spacing and defensive versatility.
Jaylen Brown has carried the primary scoring load, averaging 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 34.3 minutes per game. He is shooting 48.1% from the field and has started all 51 contests.
Payton Pritchard has stepped into a larger playmaking role, producing 17.6 points and 5.4 assists while shooting 46.9% overall and 36.8% from three. Derrick White has added 17.0 points and 5.7 assists per game, along with 1.4 blocks from the guard spot.
Neemias Queta is shooting 64.2% from the field while averaging 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. Luka Garza has posted a 66.0% effective field goal percentage in a reserve role.
Without their franchise cornerstone, Boston has shifted into a committee approach that relies on ball movement and defensive activity rather than isolation scoring. That style can translate in a playoff environment where possessions tighten and depth becomes critical.
Tatum’s return timeline remains uncertain, but Boston’s record and statistical profile suggest the roster has stabilized without him.
Whether that formula holds through four playoff rounds remains to be seen, yet the Celtics have positioned themselves as legitimate contenders even without their leading star on the floor.
