The Celtics’ guard rotation has been a talking point, but the numbers point in a pretty clear direction: the ball should keep finding Jayson Tatum.
Boston’s current point guard picture includes Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Mike Conley. White has been starting lately, though he can slide over to shooting guard without much trouble.
Pritchard has been coming off the bench, but he’s more naturally comfortable with the ball in his hands. Conley, meanwhile, is aging quickly, and there’s a real chance he isn’t even part of the rotation this season, serving more as a veteran voice in the locker room.
That’s where the concern comes from. If Boston wants more handling and creation off the bench, the roster can look a little thin.
But the answer, as the stat sheet makes plain, is already on the roster: Tatum.
However you want to label him, he’s Boston’s best ball-handler, best passer, best playmaker, and yes, its point guard. And for anyone who wants him parked more firmly at forward, there’s a number that should shut that debate down. Over the last three seasons, among all NBA players who have brought the ball up on at least 1,000 half-court possessions, Tatum has posted the highest points per possession in the league.
Brown, White, and Pritchard have all done it more often in that stretch, but none of them have been as efficient. Tatum has been the best at turning those possessions into points, and it isn’t close. Even the league’s biggest names - Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and others - are behind him in that category.
Pritchard deserves a big mention too. Over the same span, he ranks sixth in the NBA in points per possession while bringing the ball up, trailing only Tatum, Christian Braun, Jokic, Ty Jerome, and Jamal Murray. That gives Boston two of the league’s most efficient lead guards, and both are set for a meaningful rise in usage this season.
Add in the possessions White initiates, plus the change-of-pace looks for Paul George, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, and the other role players, and it becomes hard to argue for putting the ball elsewhere. The Celtics already have the pieces to handle it. Leaning into that trio of lead guards makes more sense than chasing something different.
In Other News...
Jaylen Brown Just Gave Celtics Fans A Wild New Reason To Watch
Jaylen Browns offseason keeps finding ways to surprise Celtics fans, even after his recent move to Philadelphia. One of the leagues most recognizable stars took part in a competitive boxing event in Nigeria, tying the appearance to one of his charity initiatives and showing a side of his game that has long been easy to miss from the basketball court. It was light sparring, but it fit neatly with Browns broader interest in combat sports and the toughness he has always projected.
Brown has talked before about training in Muay Thai, and the boxing ring is hardly a random detour for him. For Boston fans who watched him grow into one of the NBAs most physical wings, the possibility of a post-basketball path in boxing or even the UFC adds another layer to an already unusual career arc. For now, it is just an offseason subplot, but it is the kind of one that makes people wonder what Brown might chase once his basketball days are done. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Fans Already Have A Problem With Nikes Latest Look
Nikes new alternate-uniform rollout has already stirred up plenty of reaction, and Boston is very much part of the conversation. The NBA and Nike introduced the Specter Edition collection for eight teams, including the Celtics, at a recent event, with the line set for an official release next week. Nike has framed the uniforms as a nod to basketball culture and individuality, but the early response from fans has been mostly skeptical.
For Celtics followers, the issue is not just another wardrobe tweak but whether the new look actually fits a franchise whose identity is tied so closely to tradition. The collection also includes the Hawks, Kings, Knicks, Lakers, Pistons and 76ers, but Bostons design is drawing its share of attention because every alternate jersey tends to get measured against the standard the Celtics have spent decades building. After this first wave of reaction, the real test comes once the jerseys are on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Have A Real Defensive Trade Debate Tied To The Clippers
The Celtics have been looking for ways to tighten the rotation without overhauling the roster, and a Kris Dunn trade idea from Los Angeles fits that kind of thinking. Boston could land the Clippers guard in exchange for three future second-round picks, a modest price on the surface for a player whose calling card is defense and whose offense has continued to improve. His contract also lines up with the teams trade exception, which makes the framework at least workable from Bostons side.
What makes the proposal interesting is the balance of need and cost. The Celtics would be betting that Dunn can bring point-of-attack resistance and help shore up a perimeter group that values versatility, while the Clippers would turn a defensive guard into future draft capital and clear his deal off the books. The real question for Boston is whether that kind of defensive upgrade is worth spending draft assets now, especially when the market could offer other ways to address the same issue. [Read more 🡒]