Former Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins, now an analyst for ESPN, sees the Beantown team reaching the 2020 NBA Finals during the season restart in Orlando, Florida.
Perkins elaborated on his reasoning behind the huge Celtics prediction in the latest Celtics @ Home episode, breaking it down by Boston's top players (per Dave Green of NBC Sports).
First and foremost, Perk noted that Kemba Walker has had enough rest to heal his knee injury.
“At the start of the season, he was playing at an MVP-type level. After the All-Star break, he injured his knee and he wasn't the same. Well guess what? He's had more than enough time to rehab and rest,” Perkins said of the new Celtics playmaker.
Furthermore, Jayson Tatum has been playing really well before the season was suspended, something that Perk expects to continue when the season resumes.
“He's [Tatum] been getting better and better by the month of this year, almost to the point where we consider him a Top 10-type player in the NBA. One of the best scorers in the league, he has zero flaws. He'll be a future MVP of the league in the next two years, mark my words.”
As for Jaylen Brown, the ex-Celtics big man emphasized how the young swingman can give Boston an efficient 20-point game on a daily basis.
“He's one of the best two-way players in the NBA today. He can get you 20 points a night on 50 percent shooting and he locks down on the other end.”
Marcus Smart has been a key cog for the Celtics as well, and according to Perkins, his grit and defense will be a huge factor for Boston.
“Remember when I told you if you see him in a fight with a bear, you need to help the bear? That's true,” Perkins said of Smart.
The 3-year-old retired NBA player also cited Gordon Hayward, Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter as crucial players in Boston's bid to return to NBA Finals. He specifically noted Theis' rim protection and ability to guard all positions, as well as Kanter's ability to step up when needed as important factors for the Cs.
The Celtics entered the NBA hiatus with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference at 43-21. However, when the NBA resumes this July, the top of the East won't be a walk in the park for Boston. After all, they have to contend with defending champions Toronto Raptors and last year's MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Only time will tell if Big Perk is right about his prediction.
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