For the Boston Celtics to win the 2020 championship in Orlando, NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen knows exactly what needs to happen.
Pippen, a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, believes Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum — and not All-Star point guard Kemba Walker — has to be the main guy on offense leading the charge once the “bubble” games start on July 30.
Scottie Pippen: “If [the Celtics are] to make a run, it has to rely on [Jayson] Tatum’s ability to carry them, offensively, and I feel like he’s totally ready [to be best player on a championship-caliber team].” pic.twitter.com/fqe2fJT7AS
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) July 6, 2020
Walker may be the most accomplished player on the Celtics, but Tatum is by far the most talented.
Before the season was suspended in March, Tatum was averaging 23.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Celtics in 59 games. The 22-year-old, who is eligible to sign a lucrative contract extension this offseason, was also shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from beyond the arc and 80.6 percent from the free-throw line.
The Celtics have a good shot of winning the title at Walt Disney World. The team has four explosive scorers in Walker, Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward. That's not to mention one of the best two-way players in the game in Marcus Smart and an excellent head coach in Brad Stevens.
Tatum has already proven that the bright lights of the playoffs don't bother him. After all, this is the same guy who put LeBron James on a poster in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals.
The Celtics' eight seeding games have them taking on the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards. Tatum and the Celtics are currently in the third spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
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