Boston — Jayson Tatum acknowledged he has not yet determined whether he will suit up for the Boston Celtics this season, telling ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, “I still have not made a decision on whether or not I’m coming back this year.” The forward continues to recover from the torn Achilles he suffered during last year’s playoffs, and, according to Shelburne, the organization is not pressuring him for an early comeback.
Speculation about a possible return intensified after a social-media post noted that Boston’s March 1 home game against Philadelphia was moved from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET and picked up by NBC. The adjustment led some fans to believe the nationally televised slot was chosen with Tatum’s comeback in mind, Heavy.com’s Steve Bulpett reported.
Medical Outlook
Achilles specialists urge caution on any timetable shorter than one year. “It is a devastating injury and it has an excessive recovery time,” said Dr. George Theodore of Massachusetts General Hospital in an interview with MassLive. He added that the tendon rupture can affect both performance and career longevity, while several former players told the outlet that regaining confidence in the injured leg can be as challenging as the physical rehab.
Brown Lauds Team’s Unexpected Rise
Despite off-season and pre-deadline moves aimed at trimming payroll, Boston has climbed to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. “We’re a top-five team in the league, coming from the start of the season when it was supposed to be a gap year,” guard Jaylen Brown told CelticsBlog. “That’s a big deal.” Brown said the group’s resilience has exceeded outside expectations and is a point of pride in the locker room.
Film Study Fuels Success
Coaches and players credit extensive video sessions for much of the club’s on-court edge, Boston Sports Journal reported in a detailed look at the team’s preparation habits.
The Celtics continue monitoring Tatum’s rehabilitation while leaning on depth, disciplined scouting and intensive film work to stay among the league’s top contenders.
Source: Hoops Rumors
