The Celtics have been so near conquering an NBA title these previous few years, however regardless of main the Japanese Convention standings, one thing all the time appears to get in the way in which throughout the playoffs. The final time Boston held the NBA trophy was again in 2008, and star Jayson Tatum hopes to get issues proper this yr.
In a latest interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the ahead claimed that newcomer Kristaps Porzingis feels just like the “lacking piece” for the Massachusetts roster, and went all the way in which to check him with legend Paul Gasol. In accordance with the famous person, the Lithuanian might serve him simply because the Spanish large man helped Kobe Bryant win two championships in Los Angeles.
“Kobe actually wanted Pau for these final two championships that they received collectively,” Jayson stated. “No matter path that I’m on and we’re on, KP actually feels just like the lacking piece.”
Jayson Tatum believes Kristaps Porzingis was the lacking piece the Celtics must go all the way in which 🏆
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— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 1, 2024
The purple and gold traded for Gasol again in 2008, with the expectation that he might fill in Shaquille O’Neal’s footwear, who had left a star void 4 years earlier. The middle’s midseason arrival got here with a right away Finals look, and two championships the next two campaigns.
Tatum, on the opposite gand, has already been to 4 Japanese Convention Finals in solely seven years, after which misplaced the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors two years in the past. In a really contested collection, Boston misplaced once more in seven video games to the Miami Warmth final season.
With Porziņģis now sporting the inexperienced jersey, the Celtics appear greater than able to incomes their first championship in 16 years. “He undoubtedly stunned me within the sense I didn’t actually know him,” Tatum shared. “I solely knew him from the handful of occasions I performed in opposition to him, however he’s lived as much as all of the hype.
“We struggled final yr in opposition to Miami as a result of they have been switching, and we didn’t have anyone to essentially throw the ball to, to reveal their switching. They took benefit of us on that, and KP is like the final word reply for that.”
Boston gamers admitted that it felt like a danger to let Marcus Good go, however ultimately the commerce made sense
After nine-long seasons in Massachusetts, Marcus Smart‘s time with the Celtics lastly got here to an finish final summer time, as he was traded out to the Memphis Grizzlies. With this deal, the Boston group was capable of shut the acquirement of Porzingis, which at first appeared like a danger.
“It was type of like saying goodbye proper earlier than the season began,” Tatum stated about attending Good’s wedding ceremony throughout the offseason. “It was actually powerful. Jaylen [Brown], Good and I had been to 4 Convention Finals and one Finals. We simply been by means of a lot collectively. It was just like the band was breaking apart.”
Lamar Stevens all the time trusted the truth that you want time to adapt. “I’m an enormous believer that no matter a story is on somebody after they’re 19 or 22 and even 24, you simply type of maintain following them and simply allow them to develop and allow them to develop,” he advised the press.
With persistence, the previous Cleveland participant insisted, the Lithuanian can be unstoppable. “This was dangerous,” he assured. “However as [assistant coach] Jay Laranaga used to inform me, ‘If we’re not making an attempt to enhance, we’ll cease being good.’”
