Start spreadin' the news, Jayson Tatum is expected to be back tomorrow. I want to be a part of it. Boston, Boston. You've heard that song before, right, Celtics fans?
Before the season started, all you heard was about how the Knicks would sit atop the East after Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injuries. It was finally time for New York to end its 50+ year championship drought.
Let's do a quick check-in on that storyline. The Celtics are No. 2 in the conference, 1.5 games ahead of the Knicks, and that's despite Tatum being out. New York hasn't looked like a team capable of making it out of the East, much less hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy. At least they won the NBA Cup!
Boston did learn last season that what New York does (or doesn't do) in the regular season doesn't matter come playoff time, so although the Knicks have played uninspiring basketball for stretches of this season, it'd be foolish to write them off.
But it's hard not to think of a scenario where the Celtics spoil what was supposed to be the Knicks' season, whether that be by beating New York in the playoffs or doing what was unthinkable 10 months ago and adding another trophy to their case.
Celtics can play spoiler to Knicks' championship dreams
Boston has been the better team than New York this season, but as mentioned, the real test will happen in the postseason. Having Tatum return with over a month left in the regular season is advantageous to him and the Celtics, as it gives him time to re-acclimate to being back on the floor with his teammates.
If Boston can hold onto the No. 2 seed, and New York stays at No. 3 (Cleveland is right behind 'em, though), there could be another semifinal showdown brewing.
The Knicks got the best of the Celtics last season, but if we had to guess, that probably wouldn't happen again. Joe Mazzulla would rather disappear off the face of the Earth, as would every other player who experienced that defeating feeling last year at the hands of its most hated rival.
New York fans may be finding solace in the fact that the Knicks eliminated the Celtics last season with Tatum (for the most part), but that coping may only take them so far. Not far enough to win a title, though, not if Boston and Jayson Tatum have anything to say about it.