Jayson Tatum is absolutely back to playing at his peak, and if the preseason is any indication, the league better watch out. After battling through a torn Achilles last year and a disappointing end, Tatum has started the 2026-27 campaign looking like his old self. He dropped 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, all while shooting 48% from the field and a nasty 39% from deep in just 28 minutes a night during the preseason. It was an awesome start, especially his two-man game with Mitchell Robinson, which totally jumped off the page.
Tatum’s Game Is Peak Everything (Almost)
Tatum was just doing all the things we know and love, getting to the rim by splitting defenses on pick-and-rolls for easy layups or dunks. His three-point shot was cooking, his defense was top-notch, and he was grabbing boards and dishing out dimes like it was nothing. He was truly doing everything he does when he’s at his best, showing he’s ready to get back to that peak Jayson Tatum everyone expects. The one little snag, though, is he’s gotta get to the free throw line way more. One free throw over two games just isn’t cutting it for a star like him. He could easily bump up his scoring numbers just by drawing more fouls.
The Offensive Glass Is Their Battlefield
Get ready, because the Celtics are going to own the offensive boards this season, and that’s not just a guess. In their four preseason games, they pulled down an offensive rebounding rate of 38.2%, which was the best in the entire preseason. Coach Joe Mazzulla is always talking about dominating the margins, and creating extra possessions off the offensive glass is clearly a huge part of that plan. Mitchell Robinson is gonna be a massive piece of this puzzle, too. He’s arguably the best offensive rebounder in the NBA, and he already fit right in, coming in second on the team in offensive boards during the preseason. Shout out to Luka Garza though, who actually led Boston in that category. This is gonna be a problem for opposing teams.
Defense: The Key to a High Playoff Ceiling
Boston’s defense is seriously good, and it’s built to force turnovers and control games. The Celtics are set up to have a defense on the level of squads like the Thunder and the Spurs, which tells you everything about their potential. Honestly, this team is going to go as far as their defense can take them. That’s why the playoff ceiling for this squad looks incredibly high. This isn’t just a regular season squad; they’re built for some serious postseason noise.
This is just the preseason, sure, but what the Celtics showed us is undeniable: a superstar returning to form, an offensive rebounding machine, and a defense built to suffocate opponents. If they can clean up Tatum’s free throw attempts, this team looks primed to live up to that “high playoff ceiling” chatter. Get ready, this could be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
Leave a Reply