Boston Celtics: Elite Defense, Healthy Tatum

0:00On March 30, Bobby Portis, from the Milwaukee Bucks, is straight up shouting out the Boston Celtics as the toughest team he's faced this season. After his squad dropped their last two matchups to Boston by 56 points combined, the forward with 11 years in the East knows what he's talking about. He called them out on Fandall TV as no joke. Even without Jason Tatum for a stretch, the Celtics locked in a playoff spot and notched their fifth straight 51 season on Sunday. They're sitting second in the East, right behind the Detroit Pistons, with the league's number one scoring defense keeping opponents in check. Portis broke it down, saying, Boston's system is wild and keeps them elite no matter what. Tatum's not just back he's balling, dropping 32 points in 8 assists in a 114 to 99 win over Charlotte. That timing gives them room to breathe, heading into the postseason. With Tatum healthy, they can even sit Jalen Brown for a game or two over the final eight. Boston's already hit 65 games, so he's award eligible without the extra wear.

1:02Boston's no sleeper anymore. They're primed to make noise in the playoffs, forcing every team to bring their best. You've been listening to Boston's Celtics News today, AI-powered team coverage.