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The Boston Celtics announced that Jayson Tatum plans on playing this season and is on the injury report as questionable vs. Dallas Mavericks.
The Boston Celtics are apparently not going to take it easy with Jayson Tatum’s return to the lineup after injury. Tatum returned tonight after tearing his Achilles last postseason and shocked the basketball world with a faster recovery via hard work. Many expect Tatum to play limited minutes and impact in a secondary role behind MVP candidate Jaylen Brown.
However, ESPN insider Shams Charania claims that Boston and Tatum both believe he could use the regular season to get back to “peak” form:
“My understanding is both Jayson Tatum and the Celtics view these last 19 games the last month and a half of the regular season as a pocket and window of time for him to get as close as peak form – peak Jayson Tatum ahead of the playoffs as possible.
This is a Celtics team that plays for championships, as one source in Boston told me today. But he’s been fully cleared for action to return to the court. He’s been playing five on five for the last month plus.”
Tatum pushing himself to comeback faster has prepared him for more action than the average fan assumes. Shams said that both parties believe Tatum could be back to his best by the start of the NBA Playoffs.
What Does “Peak Form” Tatum Mean?
The term “peak form” was used to describe the hope for Tatum to get close to 100% and give the Celtics a chance at the NBA Championship. However, there are varying levels for returning to form in a relatively short time.
NBA Base
Jayson Tatum will be on a minutes restriction as he returns from a ruptured Achilles suffered less than 10 months ago, per @ShamsCharania
Tatum has 19 games left to play this season, but it remains unlikely he’ll play every game. Back-to-back slates and some games not mattering at the end if they clinch a top seed could see Tatum resting a handful of games to limit his game total.
The most important sign is figuring out if Tatum can play close to 30 minutes per game and still contribute at a high level. Boston has shown depth, with names like Derrick White and Payton Pritchard stepping up behind Brown’s stellar play. Tatum just needs to fit in and play enough minutes to reach his goal.
Boston Needs Peak Tatum To Contend
Boston has one of the top two records in the Eastern Conference, but they need more than Brown and role players to truly contend. The Celtics roster sees Brown and Tatum as two superstars required on the court to give them a chance at the title.
Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and Detroit Pistons are considered the favorites right now. Boston has an outside chance, but that possibility only increases with Tatum on the court.
Most importantly, Tatum must play good basketball and look anywhere near his usual All-NBA self. The Celtics believe that Tatum has a chance to get back to form and be a top two player on an NBA Championship roster. A strong end to the regular season is needed to increase his minutes and the team’s confidence heading into the playoffs.