Kendrick Perkins on Jayson Tatum struggling in crunch time: 'You might have to run plays for other players like Jrue Holiday and Derrick White'

Bobby Manning: Jrue Holiday said he felt good in his return from injury. Better than he expected. -via Twitter @RealBobManning / March 28, 2024

Gary Washburn: Jrue Holiday WILL play tonight vs. #Hawks. #Celtics. -via Twitter @GwashburnGlobe / March 28, 2024

Bobby Manning: Jrue Holiday and Xavier Tillman both participated in shootaround this morning. They’re questionable tonight alongside Horford, Springer. -via Twitter @RealBobManning / March 28, 2024

Kendrick Perkins: When you see a team that’s a veteran team like that, that has been inconsistent, that means there’s not a real voice in the locker room. And KD has the resume, he has the credentials to be that voice. And whether that be calling guys out or lifting guys up, in order for the Phoenix Suns to take that next step, he has to be uncomfortable. And I said this about him a month ago, the Phoenix Suns haven’t had a leader since Chris Paul left. That doesn’t mean a guy that’s not gonna go out there and produce numbers and do what he do, but an actual leader. That’s why they’re one of the worst fourth-quarter teams, if not the worst fourth-quarter team in the league. That comes with leadership. -via HoopsHype / March 30, 2024

Do you think Jalen Brunson is the best PG right now? How far do you think the Knicks can go this season? Kendrick Perkins: If the Knicks were healthy – that means having Julius Randle, OG Anunoby back in the lineup – the Knicks could actually go to the NBA Finals. They’re equipped to win now. They got great depth. Their defense is ferocious. They play with a tenacity like no other, led by Tom Thibodeau. But right now – and I call them the Villanova boys with the three-headed monster led by Jalen Brunson – I wouldn’t be surprised if they reached the Conference Finals if they could get to the No. 2 or 3 seed and prevent from seeing the Celtics in the second-round matchup. -via HoopsHype / March 30, 2024

Kendrick Perkins: I always say that Steph Curry is the best player on that team, but Draymond Green is the heart and soul of that team. Now, with that being said, there comes a time where it could be a bit excessive and that’s something that Draymond has to control. Because at this point, you’re not a young guy, you’re a veteran, you’re a multiple All-Star, NBA champion. So, you know better. Draymond is a very intelligent guy and he has the respect of the referees. So he’s allowed to get away with a little bit more and rightfully so. He’s earned that respect because he probably does have a relationship with the majority of the refs. But, he’s battle-tested enough – four-time NBA champion – you know, you can’t ask him to change. He is who he is and that’s not a bad thing. -via HoopsHype / March 30, 2024

Look, you gotta get to the point as a coach where you trust every single person that you have on the floor. If you go back and look at what Robert Horry did for so many teams. Kobe and Shaq, think about the big shot that Robert Horry hit against the Sacramento Kings. Role players have stepped up tremendously in the playoffs when it came down to winning games.  Derek Fisher, we saw the shot in the series against the San Antonio Spurs. I think it’s the trust factor that the coach has to have and the others along with your superstars or the franchise guys have trust in those players as well. -via HoopsHype / March 30, 2024

Kendrick Perkins: Well, we will see. I’ve been saying this all season long… nothing that the Celtics do in the regular season is going to impress me. Their season actually starts April 20. So, I have to see if Kristaps Porzingis is gonna be able to hold up health-wise. Is he gonna be able to play at a 20 and 10 status every single night? When he has to match up with a guy like Giannis [Antetokounmpo], is he gonna be able to hold his own because that’s gonna be key. And also, Jayson Tatum, him and Jaylen Brown, in close games, can they be those guys to close out those close games and be able to go toe-to-toe. That’s what it’s gonna be based on. -via HoopsHype / March 30, 2024

Tatum has struggled mightily in clutch situations this season. He is 5 for 18 shooting with the Celtics trailing or leading by 5 points or fewer in the last minute of games. He is 1 for 7 with the game within 3 points in the final 10 seconds. “I know I missed a couple this year,” he said. “It’s like damn, I [have to] be due for one. I had a bunch of them in my career so far. It’s part of it, make-or-miss league. But I really do enjoy being in those situations.” -via Boston Globe / March 30, 2024

Bobby Marks: Notable names that have reached the 65-game criteria, are on pace or ineligible/not on pace: Reached the criteria Jarrett Allen Jayson Tatum Derrick White DeMar DeRozan Coby White Jarrett Allen Nikola Jokic Stephen Curry Pascal Siakam Paul George James Harden Kawhi Leonard Anthony Davis Giannis Antetokounmpo Damian Lillard Rudy Gobert Anthony Edwards Jalen Brunson Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Paolo Banchero Kevin Durant Domantas Sabonis Chet Holmgren On pace Jaylen Brown Jrue Holiday Alex Caruso Luka Doncic Tyrese Haliburton LeBron James Jaren Jackson Jr. Bam Adebayo Zion Williamson Herb Jones Jalen Suggs Tyrese Maxey Devin Booker De’Aaron Fox Victor Wembanyama Off pace/Ineligible Trae Young Kristaps Porzingis LaMelo Ball Zach LaVine Darius Garland Donovan Mitchell Kyrie Irving Draymond Green Ja Morant Jimmy Butler Khris Middleton Karl-Anthony Towns Julius Randle Joel Embiid Bradley Beal Scottie Barnes Lauri Markkanen TBD because of injuries Alperen Sengun Brandon Ingram -via Twitter @BobbyMarks42 / March 27, 2024

Todd Whitehead: These are the 4 players from each “height class” who are making the biggest defensive impact. pic.twitter.com/nzAuy7ky1d -via Twitter @CrumpledJumper / March 26, 2024

John Karalis: Jrue Holiday, Xavier Tillman, and Derrick White are all out tonight -via Twitter @John_Karalis / March 25, 2024