Paul Pierce reveals what would make Celtics favorites in the East

A lot of people around the NBA had the Boston Celtics penciled in as a rebuilding team this season. 

Some core pieces were moved, and Jayson Tatum's Achilles tear in last year's playoffs put a long shadow over everything. That kind of injury usually wipes out a full year.

But Boston is sitting at 34-19, second in the Eastern Conference, and it doesn't look like a team that's rebuilding anything. Jaylen Brown has been playing like an MVP candidate, and HC Joe Mazzulla keeps getting steady production out of his roster.

The Detroit Pistons are out front at 39-13, with the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors all within striking distance behind Boston. Not everybody is ready to call the Celtics a contender right now, but that conversation shifts the moment Tatum walks back through the door.

Celtics legend Paul Pierce brought that up on "No Fouls Given," making the case for what a Tatum return could mean.

"I think the Celtics should be the favorite in the East. As we're talking today, they're second in the East. They bring in a first team all NBA player. Coming off of an Achilles. We don't need him to be a first teamer to get better. He just has to be a presence, a guy that can really knock down shots down the stretch, be another facilitator, uses intangibles, that can be enough to make them better.

"Out of 28 games, if he can play 20 of those games, I think they can go like 15-5."