Celtics getting Jayson Tatum hype that could fuel NBA finals dream

It’s been nearly seven months since the night when Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon at Madison Square Garden. His first few months of recovery were rather quiet, with few updates surfacing online.

These last few months, however, have been pretty much the opposite. At least once every few weeks, a new video of Tatum putting in work on the court makes its rounds on social media, and fans get excited -- rightfully so.

The latest came from Tatum’s Instagram, where he shared footage of himself doing some one-on-one work against Celtics assistant coach Tony Dobbins.

A Jayson Tatum return might make the Celtics East favorites

The video shows Tatum changing direction with speed, taking the ball strong to the hoop, and even hitting one of his signature stepback threes.

There are still plenty of boxes to check in his recovery process, but Tatum always seems to be far ahead of schedule anytime fans get any update like this one.

According to him, he’s made the most of the climb back and has taken time to work on the rest of his body as he rebuilds the strength in his leg.

"I’m feeling better though, I’ve had 29 weeks to really work on my body,” Tatum told the Morris twins during a Twitch stream last week. “This is the strongest I've ever been, the best the rest of my body has ever felt...I need to be 100% before I get back on the court."

That last part is the most important, though. Ensuring that his body is ready to return to action is non-negotiable. Tatum’s road back has been far too strenuous to rush back and reaggravate the repaired tendon.

With that being said, if he does wind up coming back… watch out.

It’s no secret how incredible the Celtics have been over the past several weeks. They’re 10-2 in their last 12 games, and have hit their stride as a unit. They’re clearly past their early-season growing pains.

Joe Mazzulla seems to have a feeling for his team and the rotations he’d like to run with, which has allowed some of his new players to build chemistry and confidence.

After Sunday’s win over the Toronto Raptors, Boston now sits third in the Eastern Conference with a record of 15-9. Jaylen Brown has carried the load comfortably without Tatum and is playing at an All-NBA level.

If the Celtics are fortunate enough to add Tatum back to the lineup at some point in the regular season, they’ll have to be looked at as legitimate contenders -- if they’re not already.

As of now, none of the top Eastern Conference teams feels unbeatable. In fact, the Celtics have beaten every top-six team that they’ve played in the East, with a meeting with the Miami Heat looming next week.

Other teams may look to bring in additional talent before the trade deadline to separate themselves from the pack. With the possibility of a Tatum return, Boston might be able to do so organically.

Only time will tell. Health still remains the top priority.