News Article
Published
Oct 20, 2026 at 01:29 PM EDT
The Boston Celtics are entering a new era following the decision to trade away Jaylen Brown this past offseason.
With a new-look roster featuring additions like Paul George and Mitchell Robinson, the Celtics will take the court for their 2026-27 NBA regular-season opener on Tuesday afternoon — facing off against the Detroit Pistons.
So, do the Jayson Tatum-led Celtics have a chance to compete for an NBA title this season?
According to former player Kendrick Perkins, the answer is "hell no."
"Are the Celtics contenders this season? The answer is hell no," Perkins said. "They don't have the personnel. Jayson Tatum is on the clock. When you talk about players that are under the most pressure, Jayson Tatum is one of those guys that's under the most pressure.
"When you look at the Celtics and their roster, I believe they're going to make it to the playoffs through the Play-In Tournament."
The Celtics suffered a first-round exit in last year's playoffs, falling to the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games. The 76ers are now even stronger with the additions of Brown and LeBron James.
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Tuesday's Opening Day matchup between the Celtics and Pistons will tip off at 3 p.m. ET.