Jayson Tatum injury update indicates an unfortunate no-brainer decision likely coming

As if the Celtics needed any more bad news after the repulsive efforts in Games 5 and 6, it seems that Jayson Tatum may miss Game 7 on Saturday night. He tweaked something in his right leg in Game 6 and briefly went to the locker room in the third quarter. He was available to return if the game was closer, and Tatum and Joe Mazzulla both downplayed the issue after the game, with JT even saying he expected to play on Saturday.

But with some time to step back and assess the situation, there may be some other opinions coming into the picture. On Saturday afternoon, Tatum was officially downgraded to questionable with what they’re calling “left knee stiffness”.

Obviously, it was the right achilles that Tatum ruptured last May, but he seemed to be grabbing his left calf on Thursday night and came back with most of his leg wrapped up. Every step of his recovery has been incredible so far, but he’s putting an absurd amount of strain on his entire body.

As gutting as it is to think of Tatum potentially missing a Game 7, the Celtics have to look at the bigger picture, and if he is anything less that 100% healthy, risking a major injury would be malpractice.

Celtics paying price for not taking care of series earlier

Sadly, this is the price you pay for playing with your food. The Celtics had a great chance to wrap this up in five games, and then six. But now, they have to come back home for Game 7, and they’ve put a lot of extra and unnecessary mileage on Tatum’s tires, which now appear to be catching up with him.

The amount of achilles tears we’ve seen in the playoffs in recent years is enough to show the dangers of playing with calf soreness. If that’s what Tatum is experiencing, just this close to returning from injury, he needs to do what’s best and sit this one out.

I’m sure Tatum is pushing to play, and the thought of missing this game is killing him, but this is a decision that’s just too important to come down to that. The doctors and the other professionals involved may have to save Jayson from himself on this one.

Celtics should be able to win without Tatum

Frankly, the Celtics should be able to win this game without Tatum, and in a lot of ways, they owe it to him to do so. They’ve done it all year long, but now, they’ve abandoned him. Tatum has been the Celtics’ best player in this series, by far, and he has largely been let down by his supporting cast.

Well, now, in a sad twist of irony, they may be gifted a chance at redemption. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard need to step up, as they’ve proven they can do time and again. And the role players need to shine like they have all season long as well. 

If they come together and play with their backs against the wall, we’ve seen how great they can be, and that team can absolutely show up and shock Philly in Game 7. But if we see the same sad effort we’ve seen in the past two games, and nobody steps up to fill the void left if Tatum sits, this magical season will come to an end in the next few hours.

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