Tatum Ankle Injury

[Phantom255x]

Bubblewrap until April 19/20

[slamtheking]

[Donoghus]

I don't understand the panic.  Why are people thinking he's going to be out a month?

It's not going to shock me if Tatum is back in 3 or 4 games.  Hell, Cooper Flagg missed what, a few days?

I'd imagine some of the fear is rooted from '08-09 plus the Celtics less than stellar history of injury management/decimination.

Or just its the whole New England jaded sports history mentality of the "whatever bad might happen, will happen"

[boscel33]

For those who haven?t seen it, JT was in some excruciating pain following Sabonis crowding his landing on a made three.  Sabonis got a flagrant but Tatum got himself what appears to be a bad ankle sprain.  I know it?s bad practice to compare self with real athletes, but like all of us I?ve had my share of turned ankles. In my experience the degree of pain was usually related to the intensity of injury and length of time needed to heal.  Hopefully I?m wrong and JT will be good as new in 3 weeks, but I think it?s going to take a good deal longer.  Obviously this team can win a round, maybe even two without him. But his absence messes with the dynamics of a team that was rolling, so I?m hoping for a pleasant surprise when we hear reports later today.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C9BX3qR4Dj8

I've had my share of blown ankles, almost to the point of needing surgery.  I never rolled around like he did.  That said, I do hope it's not serious.

[keevsnick]

So that's a pretty clear ankle sprain. But given that he was able to walk out on his own I'd guess that at worst its a grade 2 ankle sprain which is a four week recovery. The playoffs start in four weeks. So even in the absolute worst case scenario he'd be back in time for the start of the playoffs. More likely I think its a grade one sprain and he's out 1-2 weeks, which is fine becasue I expect they'd be retsing him some the next few weeks anyway.

In short, not really worried about what it means for the C's playoff run. If this happened in round one it would be a bigger deal, but right now plenty of lead up time still left.

[Redz]

For those who haven?t seen it, JT was in some excruciating pain following Sabonis crowding his landing on a made three.  Sabonis got a flagrant but Tatum got himself what appears to be a bad ankle sprain.  I know it?s bad practice to compare self with real athletes, but like all of us I?ve had my share of turned ankles. In my experience the degree of pain was usually related to the intensity of injury and length of time needed to heal.  Hopefully I?m wrong and JT will be good as new in 3 weeks, but I think it?s going to take a good deal longer.  Obviously this team can win a round, maybe even two without him. But his absence messes with the dynamics of a team that was rolling, so I?m hoping for a pleasant surprise when we hear reports later today.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C9BX3qR4Dj8

I've had my share of blown ankles, almost to the point of needing surgery.  I never rolled around like he did.  That said, I do hope it's not serious.

Tatum does have a little LeBron in him...I love the guy, but he is a tad dramatic.  Hoping that's the case.

[RJ87]

I'm really not worried about it, reports after the game were that he was boot free. I think Tatum tapes which really does make a difference in healing time.

[SHAQATTACK]

Him not having a history of ankle issues is a good start .  He is young and should right itself pretty quick .  But I would test him and let it heal up before a game test.

[SparzWizard]

This is the same ankle he injured in Game 7 of the 2023 ECF when he landed on Gabe Vincent. Needs to be looked at very carefully for any post-recovery impact, including loss of explosiveness.

I sure hope history doesn't repeat itself, where Brown could not elevate this team without JT for the next few weeks as that's what happened two years ago

[Phantom255x]

This is the same ankle he injured in Game 7 of the 2023 ECF when he landed on Gabe Vincent. Needs to be looked at very carefully for any post-recovery impact, including loss of explosiveness.

I sure hope history doesn't repeat itself, where Brown could not elevate this team without JT for the next few weeks as that's what happened two years ago

I'm not worried unless it's a Grade 3 sprain. There's still 4 weeks until the playoffs, and quite frankly if needed this team should still be able to get by the first round even if Tatum isn't 100%. Just manage it properly and keep Tatum out of games in the meantime.

I do think they need to change their approach with the team though, like maybe consider giving Porzingis, White, etc. some time off more going forward instead of risking something. In a way, this injury might be a good thing in that sense. Otherwise it felt like a lot of these guys including Tatum were just gonna keep playing until mid-April even against the bad teams. Start doing what the rest of the NBA is doing and load manage more.

[mobilija]

This is the same ankle he injured in Game 7 of the 2023 ECF when he landed on Gabe Vincent. Needs to be looked at very carefully for any post-recovery impact, including loss of explosiveness.

I sure hope history doesn't repeat itself, where Brown could not elevate this team without JT for the next few weeks as that's what happened two years ago

I'm not worried unless it's a Grade 3 sprain. There's still 4 weeks until the playoffs, and quite frankly if needed this team should still be able to get by the first round even if Tatum isn't 100%. Just manage it properly and keep Tatum out of games in the meantime.

I do think they need to change their approach with the team though, like maybe consider giving Porzingis, White, etc. some time off more going forward instead of risking something. In a way, this injury might be a good thing in that sense. Otherwise it felt like a lot of these guys including Tatum were just gonna keep playing until mid-April even against the bad teams. Start doing what the rest of the NBA is doing and load manage more.

They?ve been load managing all season. Horford, Jrue, Brown, Porzingis and Hauser. Those guys have all been in and out of the line up all season. Some more on the injury side than the management side but they?ve been very cautious and judicious with playing time all season.

[Donoghus]

We need a MattyIce injury report.

[Yuckabuck33]

To those saying Tatum overreacted to the sprain- since he never gets the flagrant called, maybe he was told that the next time someone landed under his feet he should act like his leg was cut off. I certainly can't blame him.

[jpotter33]

https://x.com/celtics/status/1904681385815646531?s=46&t=lGU0TGXtwjkuVuoin6WTNw

JT doubtful for tomorrow.

No way he plays and they risk it, but I think it?s a positive sign that he?s only doubtful instead of fully out, as well as that we haven?t heard anything about him being reevaluated in a week or two or anything like that.

[Goldstar88]

I don't understand the panic.  Why are people thinking he's going to be out a month?

It's not going to shock me if Tatum is back in 3 or 4 games.  Hell, Cooper Flagg missed what, a few days?

I agree, Roy. I?d guess a week or two. Also, Flagg coming back that fast was crazy. He came down with all his weight on that ankle!