Tatum Injury (Ruptured Achilles - Surgery Completed )

[Phantom255x]

Here's another video, Tatum posted it on his snapchat. Not gonna lie he looks crisp here. Obviously he's not 100% but he looks maybe 65-70%? I feel like March is a realistic possibility for him barring, god forbid, another significant rehab setback.

https://x.com/lockedupjb/status/1995644720169766923

[Celtics4ever]

That was slow moving, and not at game speed.  Maybe he has restrictions on effort.  But practicing slow only helps in guitar playing.   

[Vermont Green]

I just hope the Doctors are able to be very sure of the level of healing and restrengthening.  I think with MRI and physical tests, they should be able to be sure.  I am torn, I don't feel that even with Tatum back, that this team will go very far.  But if he got some real court time at the end of this season, it would probably be for the better for next season.  More of his normal routine.

But once you are in the playoffs, there is more pressure to push it.  I don't think they would ever do this, but if they gave him some limited minutes in some regular season games, but then shut him down, don't let him play in the playoffs.  But they won't do that.  He will be out there for playoff games if he is back, and that is where the most risk will be.

I would rather him not play at all, but it is looking more and more like he will be back.

[keevsnick]

I think there's shaping up to be some stand off between Tatum, who obviously wants to return, and the Celtics org who probably doesn't want him too.

I don't see any reason Tatum couldn't be back sometime between just after the All-Star break (first game is Feb 19th) and mid-March. That would be 9-10 months since the injury and would still give him 15-25 games to round into shape before the playoffs.
There's much doubt he COULD play this season, just physically, the timetable isn't unreasonable.

The real question is whether there's added benefit to sitting out longer vs any benefit to the team of returning for a playoff run. If the team is the 11th seed and just out of it by mid-February I can't see any way the Celtics let him return, there's no upside. But if they are like 6th? And everyone else is healthy and playing well? And the East keeps looking this wide open? Then why not?

The one counter argument is there is some anecdotal evidence that a long recovery is better for players vs a shorter recovery. Kobe came back quickly, tore his knee 6 months after returning and was never the same. Durant came back slowly and has shown very little drop.

[Celtics4ever]

I would rather him not play at all, but it is looking more and more like he will be back.

My line of thinking is the same, I would rather he get to 100% to fully recover.

[SHAQATTACK]

I saw the Tatum short gym video . 

I thought he looked dang good for that injury.  That said ,  as others mentioned , not game speed ,  and he needs to mentally pu5 it behind him to focus on the court like it never happened. 

Overall , I d feel better with KD plan ,  take off the extra 6 months and be sure .