Portis: Celtics 'Sleeper Team' for Title

Having faced the Celtics twice this season with his Milwaukee Bucks and losing by a combined 56 points, Portis believes Joe Mazzulla's squad deserves respect. 'My sleeper team is Boston,' Portis said on FanDuel TV's 'Run It Back.' 'Culture is everything to me, man. When you talk about guys that's been there, guys that have done it.'

The Celtics have defied expectations by clinching a playoff berth and securing their fifth straight 50-win season despite Jayson Tatum's absence. Now with Tatum back and playing at a high level—he scored 32 points and eight assists in Sunday's victory—the Celtics are second in the East with the NBA's top-ranked scoring defense. 'Them guys gonna be ready in the playoffs,' Portis added, 'and they got a crazy system that allows them to be great.'