Jayson Tatum has missed this whole season with an Achilles injury so far, but he continues to rehab and work his way back.
Jayson Tatum has missed this whole season with an Achilles injury so far, but he continues to rehab and work his way back.Charles Krupa/Associated Press
Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum is not a loud voice publicly, but don’t confuse that with a lack of awareness of narratives and how to control them.
Tatum’s rehabilitation from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered last May has mostly transpired behind closed doors. So the guess here is that it was a conscious decision by Tatum to complete a one-hour on-court workout in Detroit while Boston’s optional pregame shootaround was open to the media.
He even worked out on the basket closest to where the journalists had assembled. Tatum has made no secret of his desire to get back onto the court as soon as possible, and he has made it clear how difficult it has been to have to sit and watch.
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Surely, he’s thrilled to see the team in contention in the Eastern Conference, potentially putting him in position to chase another championship if he returns this year. But it also must be hard to see the offense humming so smoothly without him.
Monday afternoon’s workout, which came on the heels of the Celtics’ 52-point second quarter in their Saturday romp over the Hawks, also felt like a subtle reminder to onlookers that he is still here, and should not be forgotten about.
The Celtics have yet to really consider how Tatum will be used if he returns this season. His playing time would be limited at the start, and he would almost certainly not be used in games on back-to-back nights. But if he comes back, it will be fascinating to see the hierarchy between him and Jaylen Brown.
For years, Tatum has been the obvious No. 1 option, a notion that Brown accepted but never loved. But now Brown is crafting his finest NBA season. He was just named an All-Star starter for the first time, and he has helped build the league’s second-ranked offense.
In the early days and weeks, at least, the belief here is that it will be important for Tatum to have a slightly deferential role.
⋅ Speaking of Brown, he did not seem thrilled about his All-Star honor. He said he was mostly happy for the people who had supported him along the way, and he stressed that he should have already been voted an All-Star starter by now. Brown often operates with a chip on his shoulder, and in this case, he sounded more focused on previous perceived snubs than the honor itself.
Celtics guard Derrick White will be rooting against the Patriots on Sunday with his favorite team, the Broncos, in the AFC Championship game.
Celtics guard Derrick White will be rooting against the Patriots on Sunday with his favorite team, the Broncos, in the AFC Championship game.Scott Marshall/Associated Press
⋅ For much of this season, guard Derrick White built a strong case to be named an All-Star reserve for the first time, especially in a watered down Eastern Conference.
But his momentum has stalled. White has failed to reach double figures in scoring in any of Boston’s last three games, and he has made just 14 of 66 3-pointers (21.2 percent) in the last six. Yes, he is averaging career-highs of 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, but his shooting splits will probably be hard to overlook.
⋅ White, a Colorado native who also attended college in the state, sat at his locker smiling after the Celtics’ walloped the Hawks on Saturday. It was partly because he was pleased with that win, and partly because he was thrilled that his Broncos escaped with an overtime playoff victory against the Bills.
But the moment became bittersweet when he heard that starting quarterback Bo Nix had suffered a season-ending ankle injury. White said he has spent the past few days talking himself into believing in backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s potential in advance of Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Patriots.
“I like the Broncos, all right? I like the Broncos,” White said, smiling. “I don’t know how they’re going to win, but they’re going to win. It’s in Denver. New England has struggled in Denver in the past. It’ll be a good game though.”
“We’ve got a lot of Patriots fans around here, but I’m holding it down for Denver. I’ve got a long week ahead of me and I don’t want to jump to conclusions. But Jarrett Stidham, I’ve been watching highlights and I’m positive with it right now, so it should be a good game.”
⋅ Celtics forward Sam Hauser helped wipe away a 10-point deficit by scoring 8 points in the first three minutes of the third quarter in Monday’s loss to the Pistons. Then he committed his fourth foul with 8:56 left and went to the bench.
Hauser has committed more than two fouls in just six games this season, and he has never collected more than four. It was not surprising to see him take a seat in this situation, but it was surprising to see him stay there as long as he did. He remained on the bench for nearly 14 minutes, returning with 7:12 left in the fourth.
Coach Joe Mazzulla said afterward the decision was not related to his foul trouble, just Hauser’s typical rotations. Regardless, Hauser was 4 for 7 from the 3-point line in the game, and the rest of the team went 9 for 34.
The Patriots and Broncos are bound for the AFC Championship game. Ben Volin and Tara Sullivan break down the NFL playoff games and more. Watch the full episode.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.