The NBA title race just got a lot more interesting. Jayson Tatum will reportedly return to the Celtics this season, possibly against the Mavericks this Friday. What should we be concerned about when he returns? Are the Celtics the team to beat in the East? Our writers are also involved.
What was your reaction to the news of Tatum’s return?
Tom Haberstroh: here. us. go. As far as the regular season goes, this might be Luka Doncic’s most anticipated appearance since his first game with the Lakers. Based on recent high-profile player timelines, that appears to be pretty fast. He’s three months ahead of Dejounte Murray’s absence and eight months ahead of Kevin Durant’s return from injury. I really don’t know what to expect.
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Dan Devine: I have to imagine that all relevant stakeholders — the Celtics’ medical and training staff, Brad Stevens and his front office, Joe Mazzula and his coaching staff, Tatum’s representatives, Tatum’s family and friends, and obviously, most importantly, Tatum himself — are operating with the best possible information and appropriate caution. I have to imagine they concluded that returning now, giving him six weeks of regular-season preparation before the season officially begins, rather than two months later when the Celtics are in the throes of a playoff series, is the safer, more prudent option. I understand all this intellectually.
But as someone who is naturally anxious and nervous, who was at Madison Square Garden when Tatum ruptured his Achilles against the Knicks, and who read Haberstroh’s column about the Achilles recovery timeline, I’d be lying if I said my first reaction wasn’t “Man, me.” real I hope everyone is right to sign this agreement as soon as possible. “
Ben Rohrbach: What a great job Jaylen Brown did leading this ship in Jayson Tatum’s absence. The league continued to grow rapidly over the next 10 months without its brightest American-born star. It waits for no one, and in Boston we expect this to mean difficult times for a team that not only lost Tatum to an Achilles injury, but also lost a number of championship contributors to the looming luxury tax bill.
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That would have put the Celtics in the lottery and Tatum not having to return this season. But Brown stepped up and led the Celtics back to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, where they will compete with Tatum in his absence. When one hero returns victorious, let us not overlook the other hero who remains at his post at the same time.
What’s one thing you’ll be focusing on once Tatum returns?
Devine: What a nice move he has. That’s a basic answer, I admit…but that’s the whole thing, you know? Can Tatum push with roughly the same power and explosiveness? To get the same boost to his jump shot? Back to beating defenders off the dribble and cutting to the rim? Let him slide on defense and switch assignments seamlessly? To bounce around in traffic—and not worry about what happens when you hit the ground?
If you don’t remember, Tatum was in the midst of a 42-point, 8-rebound, 4-assist, 4-steal, 2-block masterclass on the road against a very good Knicks team right when he came back, maybe anytime he comes back at the end of the season. However, I hope he can move something Just like we remember him as a mainstay on the All-NBA team. That’s what I’ll focus on.
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Rohrbach: How he adapts. At the end of Tatum’s latest mini-documentary for NBC, which chronicles his return, he told his doctor something interesting — he won’t be returning as a role player. Accepting a role might be the best option for him, respecting Brown and a team that has established its identity in his absence (at least for this season). But does Tatum have what it takes to evolve into a supporting role? Or will he force Brown and company to adapt to him?
Haberstroh: His minutes total. Murray plays about 25 minutes a night for the Pelicans, who have nothing to play for. Tatum is better and the Celtics are better. The stakes are also higher, making this particularly tricky for stakeholders. Will Tatum play 15-20 minutes? Will he give it his all? For perspective, KD averaged 35 minutes per game in his first 10 games after tearing his Achilles, but that was 18 months later. My guess is that he will slowly recover and hit about 30 minutes in the playoffs.
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Will a healthy Tatum make the Celtics the team to beat in the East?
Rohrbach: It was too much for Tatum, who needs time to get back into shape. We should have serious doubts that he’ll reach anywhere near his peak level this season. He should be a valuable contributor to an already good team and nothing more. The Celtics have a chance. But saying they’re the favorite just because Tatum is on the court again — they already eliminated Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzintis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet about six months ago — just because Tatum is on the floor again seems like a stretch. Winning would be a fairy tale. This shouldn’t be the expectation.
Haberstroh: Health is a word with rich connotations. Fully healthy, peak Tatum? Yes. Healthy enough to compete, but very limited? I haven’t sent them to the finals yet. I just hope he comes back with a full training camp and preseason. Without this, I’d still be on the fence.
Devine: If he still underperforms while still playing a major role while he’s down, and does that disrupt the frankly remarkable rhythm the Celtics have established in his absence? So no: Boston can make the playoff series. It could even be brought forward if something goes wrong with the game. What if by mid-April he looks more or less like Jayson Tatum? It is very difficult to fight against them.
