The Boston Celtics are currently 11-9 after Sunday night’s victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Their rotation is thinner than normal, forcing guys like Neemias Queta, Josh Minott, and Jordan Walsh to have an increase in minutes.
While these guys have all exceeded expectations, there is no doubt that Jaylen Brown and the rest of the team won’t be contenders come playoff time.
Despite this, that is what the team is looking to do: compete for a championship. Their intentions remain clear even though Jayson Tatum is out, and that leaves the question of whether or not he will return this season.
Typically, a torn Achilles means at least a 10-12 month recovery, that is, until Tatum proved all odds and started dunking five months after his injury.
He seems to be progressing faster than anyone has, and whether that is due to advanced medicines, Tatum receiving surgery immediately, or his crazy work ethic, it seems clear that his goal is to suit up for the Celtics this season.
However, that may not be the best idea, according to Fansided’s Tyler Watts, who believes his return may not be worth it.
“Boston is not a title contender,” Watts said Monday. “They have a gaping hole at center and lack depth. The Celtics would need Tatum to immediately play like a superstar to have any chance at a deep playoff run. That doesn’t sound wise when rushing back from an Achilles surgery.
“Boston is currently in the Play-In Tournament, so Tatum would be ramping up for a win and advance situation with a series against the Pistons, Knicks, or whoever finishes as the top two seeds in the East waiting in the first round. That is a difficult road where the Celtics would quickly need Tatum playing 35-plus minutes each night.
“The Eastern Conference is wide open, but Boston is not the most talented team. They would have to rely on JT to lift them past the competition, just one year removed from a torn Achilles. It sounds like a recipe for disaster that the Celtics can end at any moment,” Watts continued.
Tatum’s return could likely lead to a bigger disaster, and at the prime of his career, it isn’t the smart thing to do. Boston made trades to set up for years to come, not this season. Trading away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis was done for one reason: to shed salary.
Tatum and the Celtics should consider this a rebuilding year, allowing players to gain experience, so that in the future they can rely on them. Go into the offseason planning for a Tatum return, and conquer the league from there.
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