The Boston Celtics, in the minds of most people, have been the best team in the NBA so far this season.
Going into Thursday’s game versus the Los Angeles Lakers, they held a league-best 37-11 record and ranked second in both offensive and defensive rating, and they may have the best starting five in basketball.
Jayson Tatum remains their best player, and he’s averaging 26.9 points a game so far this season while getting more offensive help than ever before.
Kristaps Porzingis is arguably Boston’s biggest new piece, and Tatum feels Porzingis is the “missing piece” for the team, per Ramona Shelburne via NBACentral, as he compared it to Kobe Bryant teaming up with Pau Gasol for the last two of his five NBA championships.
“Kobe really needed Pau for those last two championships that they won together. Whatever path that I’m on and we’re on, KP really feels like the missing piece.”
– Jayson Tatum on teaming up with Kristaps Porzingis
(Via https://t.co/4h0yXYL6uT) pic.twitter.com/lUmEmQ33dI
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 1, 2024
Tatum, like several other stars across the league, considers himself a disciple of the late Bryant, and at times, his offensive game almost resembles parts of the late Lakers legend’s arsenal.
However, unlike Bryant, who was arguably the greatest closer in the history of the sport, Tatum has yet to prove that he can elevate his game under heavy pressure.
Last year, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Miami Heat, he scored just 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
The year prior, he shot just 36.7 percent from the field in the NBA Finals as the Celtics blew a 2-1 series lead against the Golden State Warriors.
The Celtics are one of the few teams in sports who have a championship-or-bust mentality, and this could be the year they earn banner No. 18 thanks to the addition of Porzingis.
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