NBA Veteran Calls Celtics 'Sleeper Team' For Championship Push
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The Boston Celtics have earned a competitor's respect during the 2025-26 season.
Having spent his 11-year career with four different Eastern Conference clubs, Bobby Portis is plenty familiar with the Celtics. His Milwaukee Bucks have lost their last two games against Boston by a combined 56 points, so the forward thinks everyone should take Joe Mazzulla's squad seriously.
Portis gushed over the Celtics when Michelle Beadle asked him on FanDuel TV's "Run It Back" to identify the best team he's faced this season.
"My sleeper team is Boston," Portis said. "Culture is everything to me, man. When you talk about guys that's been there, guys that have done it."
The Celtics weren't supposed to remain title contenders with Jayson Tatum sidelined, but they clinched a playoff berth and their fifth straight 50-win season on Sunday. They're second in the East behind the Detroit Pistons with the NBA's top-ranked scoring defense.
Tatum is not only back, but playing at a high level. The six-time All-Star tallied 32 points and eight assists in Sunday's 114-99 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
Portis noted that Tatum returned with plenty of time to prepare for the postseason. His presence could also allow Boston to rest Jaylen Brown once or twice over the final eight games since he's already reached the 65 games necessary to be eligible for awards.
"Them guys gonna be ready in the playoffs, and they got a crazy system that allows them to be great," Portis said. "So my sleeper team is Boston, for sure. They're always a tough out, and guys always got to bring their A game against them."
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