Do you even envision Jayson playing the season? Joe Mazzulla: I have no idea. I never thought about it. The only thing that I care about is that he?s a part of a team and it?s a credit to him. He?s on the bench for every game. He?s on the trips. He?s working out during practice. He is in the film rooms. He?s at shootarounds. That?s how he?s leading, with his presence, and that?s how he?s preparing to come back whenever that is. That?s the only thing that matters. Everything else will take care of itself. But in moments like this when you can stick together and be a team and not distance yourself, that goes a long way and he does a great job of that.
Andscape
I've had friends in the last few days who aren't Celtics fans tell me they think Tatum should come back March or April (assuming no setbacks obviously) because they think the C's with Tatum as constructed can still make a run in THIS East.
I still think it's unlikely given the roster and especially lack of frontcourt, but then I see games like today and a few others like PHI/CLE/ORL and think idk. Yes the losses to BKN and Utah blow but they are usually very competitive in every game even against most legit teams.
And frankly, the East as a whole is very mediocre, and a few teams are inexperienced. I really don't look at any team in the East and think "wow they are just invincible, loaded with talent and we have zero chance against them". If Brad can trade for a center this deadline and then Tatum comes back, who knows.
