A lot of people are talking about the Boston Celtics as a sleeper NBA Finals team if and when Jayson Tatum comes back, but here’s another idea: what if the Celtics are an NBA Finals team even without Tatum?
As of now, Boston is in third place in a wide-open Eastern Conference, with only the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons looking like real threats.
This got The Athletic’s NBA writer Dave DuFour thinking about Boston’s chances when he appeared as a guest on The Kevin O’Connor Show on Monday. DuFour dropped a take about the Celtics that will surely cause some debate.
“The Celtics could make the finals, whether Tatum comes back or not,” DuFour said. “They need an upgrade in the middle (at center) … (but) the East is open. And so the Celtics, being as good as they have been , to me, leaves the door open for them making a run.”
“I mean, we know, like, you’re an injury away at any time,” DuFour continued. “You know, if something happens with Jalen Brunson, the Knicks fall apart.”
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To DuFour’s point, the Celtics have looked like a contender so far this season, just like Jaylen Brown’s been playing like a bonafide first option.
O’Connor speculated late on in the podcast episode that Tatum will return to the court in mid-March.
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Fans and analysts have reacted to Tatum’s workout videos in different ways. Most people are overly excited about a possible return, while others are worried about the risk of re-injury, arguing that JT shouldn’t come back this season.
Featured image via Petre Thomas/Imagn Images
