""[If] Jayson Tatum returns, they are my dark horse to win it all," Perkins said on ESPN's "Get Up" on Thursday. "Derrick White? Champion, been balling. Payton Pritchard? Champion, been balling. Joe Mazzulla? Up for Coach of the Year. "Jaylen Brown is the best two-way player in the game. He's the only player in the NBA that is top-five in scoring and top-five in defense when it comes to opponent field-goal percentage."
"Perkins appears to be changing his tune about this current Celtics roster - especially if Jayson Tatum returns to the parquet floor at some point over the final months of the 2025-26 campaign. Even with Boston playing without Tatum so far this season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon, the Celtics have exceeded plenty of expectations in what was once thought to be a "bridge" season for the franchise."
Jayson Tatum is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and has not played this season. The Celtics sit second in the Eastern Conference with a 35-19 record despite losing Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, and Luke Kornet in the offseason. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard are performing at high levels, and Joe Mazzulla is in consideration for Coach of the Year. Jaylen Brown ranks among the NBA's best two-way players, top-five in scoring and opponent field-goal percentage. If Tatum returns even at 75 percent, the roster depth and culture position Boston as a formidable title contender.
Read at Boston.com
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