Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics have exceeded expectations throughout the 2025-26 NBA season without superstar forward Jayson Tatum, who is in the final stretch of recovering from a torn Achilles.
Given how successful the Celtics have been as they continue to stand out as playoff contenders, franchise legend Paul Pierce explained why he thinks the squad is capable of making a deep run despite the changes they made this past offseason.
Paul Pierce’s Stance on Celtics’ Playoff Hopes Without Jayson Tatum
Tatum has been on the sidelines since last May, tearing his Achilles in Game 4 of the East Semifinals against the New York Knicks.
He immediately underwent surgery after the game and is over nine months into his recovery. Tatum is getting close to a return to the court, making significant strides as he is taking part in scrimmages.
Pierce made an appearance on the No Fouls Given podcast on Feb. 23. He talked about the Celtics’ playoff hopes, believing in their ability to represent the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Paul Pierce making his case why he thinks the Boston Celtics will win the Eastern Conference
“One, we have a MVP candidate in Jaylen Brown. Two, we boast a top tier defense and a top tier offense. Three, we have we’re the only team in the Eastern Conference who can say we have… https://t.co/1uipggcyHH pic.twitter.com/zVWnLYehBU
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) February 23, 2026
“One, we have a MVP candidate in Jaylen Brown. Two, we boast a top tier defense and a top tier offense. Three, we have we’re the only team in the Eastern Conference who can say we have championship DNA in the locker room.
“When you talk about Payton Pritchard, what he’s done, when you talk about Jaylen, obviously, and you still got Derick White, and you know, I like the way Coach Mazzulla, who’s is a contender for coach of the year, one of the bright young coaches. So, we have the edge in so many different spots,” Pierce said.
What Lies Ahead for Tatum and the Celtics
The Celtics had their backs against the wall with Tatum’s injury and the changes they made in the 2025 offseason. Despite that, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and the entire squad have stepped up to keep Boston in the playoff picture.
Boston boasts a 37-19 record on the season, possessing the second spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are one game above the New York Knicks and two games above the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, they trail the Detroit Pistons by 5.5 games for the top spot.
Rolling with three consecutive wins, the Celtics will look forward to their next matchup. They are in the middle of a four-game road trip in the West Coast, facing the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 24 at 9 p.m. ET.
