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Since winning the NBA championship in 2024, the Boston Celtics‘ ongoing struggles with the second apron have forced the front office to make some tough roster decisions. Despite this, the superstar duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown implied that the team would remain competitive. Although expectations were lower last year due to Tatum’s absence and the team’s offseason salary-shedding exercise, the Celtics emerged as one of the top teams in the East. While this would typically point to positive growth in the upcoming season, this may not be the case. Jaylen Brown’s departure has raised questions about Boston’s ability to contend for the title. Thus, while making predictions about next season’s winners on “Ultimate Dads Unplugged” with LaVar Ball, Jayson Tatum’s father, Justin, struggled to pick his son’s team. “Realistically, s–t, I might say New York might run it back,” responded Justin Tatum. Although Tatum’s prediction aligns with the opinion of several others, LaVar Ball was taken aback by this remark, as he reacted: “If you don’t say the team your son is on, you’ve got to be crazy. He said his son; you better say your son.” In some ways, LaVar Ball’s reaction, while unrealistic, is justified. Although Ball has cultivated a reputation for being an outspoken individual, he is fiercely loyal to his sons, as he proudly picked the Minnesota Timberwolves to win it all. While this doesn’t undermine Justin Tatum’s loyalty to his son in the slightest, Tatum justified his choice by adding: “Right now, the roster’s s–t, man.” Although Jayson Tatum remains the face of the Boston Celtics franchise and is likely to enter the season at full strength, this isn’t enough to convince Justin Tatum of the team’s chances. With Tatum clearly pointing out the flaws in the Celtics’ roster construction, the current situation raises questions about Boston’s ability to compete. Can The Celtics Win With Only Jayson Tatum Leading The Team? Even though the odds were stacked against them in the regular season, the Boston Celtics surprised many with their performances, placing second in the East by the end of the campaign. Thus, despite an underwhelming first-round exit in this year’s playoffs, there is reason to have faith in Boston’s roster management. However, a major reason for the Celtics’ success last season was Jaylen Brown’s MVP-caliber performance. With the five-time All-Star leaving Boston this summer, the focus shifts to Jayson Tatum. So the real question is: can Tatum really lead the team to a title? When healthy, Jayson Tatum is one of the league’s top players. Aside from being a versatile offensive threat, the 28-year-old is also a capable defender and rebounder. Thus, even though he averaged 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game last season, given that he was coming off a major injury, evidence suggests that he could be far more impactful. But is this enough? Unlike previous seasons, the Eastern Conference is set up to be a bloodbath in the upcoming campaign. Aside from teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat, which have suddenly emerged as powerhouses, teams such as the Indiana Pacers, the Toronto Raptors, and the Charlotte Hornets will also be on the rise. To top things off, with the reigning champion New York Knicks keeping their core together, the East remains their domain. In theory, it is difficult to count the Celtics out of any conversation. Given their history and sheer pedigree, Boston is bound to be competitive next season. However, given the depth of competition in the East and the significant changes to the Celtics’ core, it is hard to mention them as title contenders. Realistically, this isn’t a knock on Jayson Tatum. But without a co-star in his prime to support him, Tatum may be asked to do significantly more for Boston to remain in the title picture.