Why Kendrick Perkins is not ruling out a title run from the Celtics if Jayson Tatum returns

Brown has been one of the best players in the league this season, averaging the fourth-most points per game (29.3 PPG). That not only leads the team by a wide margin, but he also contributes 6.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists while being a force on defense.

White and Pritchard, who both average 17.2 points, have stepped up when the Celtics have needed them to, going off for 30 or more points on multiple occasions this season. The addition of former Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic at the deadline gives them another go-to playmaker while Tatum is out as well.

While a potential return from Tatum seemed unlikely not that long ago, and is still not a guarantee by any stretch, his addition to this lineup would definitely bolster their title chances, even if he is not at his absolute best.

With six wins in their last seven games, the Celtics are playing as well as any team in the league right now. You can make the case for the Oklahoma City Thunder (42-14), San Antonio Spurs (38-16) and Denver Nuggets (35-20) in the Western Conference, especially when they are fully healthy, but the Pistons (40-13) are the only team that Boston is currently chasing in the Eastern Conference. 

If the Celtics continue to rely on their second-best scoring defense in the league (108.4 PPG), they will be a factor during the second half of the season. A lot of that success has to do with the rest of Boston's roster stepping up and filling the void left behind without Tatum.

Winning their second NBA title in the last three seasons (2023-24) may seem like a bit of a reach with or without Tatum, given the severity of the injury. However, it is not out of the question for Boston to make a push toward another Larry O'Brien Trophy if he miraculously comes back.