There remains a chance the Boston Celtics open up the postseason with a series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It certainly sounds like those within the locker room are getting ready for the Brooklyn Nets, however, ahead of Tuesday night's game in the play-in tournament.
The winner of the Nets-Cavs game draws the Celtics in Round 1, and even if it is a potentially harrowing Brooklyn team, one reason NBC Sports Boston analyst Chris Mannix likes Boston's chances is the current mindset of Jayson Tatum.
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Mannix said Monday on Early Edition that he was speaking with someone close to Tatum who said that right now, Tatum thinks he's the best player in the world.
"Not All-NBA level, but that he's the best player in the world," Mannix said. "I think Tatum goes into this series eager to prove he can play on the level of Kevin Durant."
Tatum led the NBA in net rating (12.1) this season and was 11th in scoring at 26.9 points per game, but if he wants to lay legitimate claim to being the best player in the world, he'll certainly need to help the Celtics get beyond the first round of the postseason.
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If Boston indeed draws the Nets, Mannix has other reasons why he's keen on the Celtics to avenge last season's first-round exit.
"One reason, maybe the biggest reason, I like the Celtics in this series, is I think they want a piece of the Nets, at least select members of that team," Mannix said. "You look at Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown, who were on the Celtics last year when they were battered by the Nets. Those guys relish the opportunity to go at Kyrie Irving on the defensive side of the ball."
Check out Mannix's full comments on Tatum and a potential Celtics-Nets series in the video player above.