Celtics: Replace Tatum w/ ’19 Kawhi Leonard

[Matt15]

Do the Celtics win the title?

[No-more-rings]

I think so. Kawhi is a significant upgrade and it’s not like the Warriors ever gave him problems.

[JordansBulls]

No contest this is for sure a Celtics win.

[Outside]

Who initiates the offense? Kawhi is not that guy.

Kawhi would score better, assuming that someone can get him the ball, but 2019 Kawhi is not an upgrade over Tatum defensively.

[Cavsfansince84]

One thing that can't be overlooked about this scenario is Kawhi automatically gives the Celtics much more confidence as a team imo just as he did to the Raptors that year. So I think they play much different in the finals and there would be a lot of possessions where they could simply dump it off to him and he would have made something happen. So I think if they get it to 2-1 and Steph has that poor game 4 they find a way to win that game and go up 3-1. From there they probably win the series. I mean this is a huge upgrade considering how bad Tatum was in the finals. Kawhi already showed he can stand up to GS in that season.

[JordansBulls]

I still can't believe Tatum got locked down like that and went off on Milwaukee.

[_NoMas]

Kawhi over Tatum is already an upgrade. Kawhi over the 2022 finals Tatum is an even bigger upgrade. Celtics in 6

[Ginoboleee]

I still can't believe Tatum got locked down like that and went off on Milwaukee.

That is what (a) exhaustion and (b) smart opposition coaching can do to you.

Celts had "early playoffs depth" but not "deep playoffs depth".
Tatum had, in effect, no backup.