When do you think Tatum makes his season debut?

[Silas]

  I still don?t think he comes back this year.

I think you're in the minority on that...

[Roy H.]

via Ramona on ESPN: "I still have not made a decision on whether or not I am coming back this year" - Jayson Tatum

[Phantom255x]

via Ramona on ESPN: "I still have not made a decision on whether or not I am coming back this year" - Jayson Tatum

Imagine all that, including the docuseries, and then at the end he's like "and with that, see you all next year" 

[Moranis]

I voted for next season and I still think that is the most likely.  No reason to rush it back and get hurt even worse because he is favoring or otherwise not ready.  Honestly the fact that the team is so good without him, makes him coming back less likely in my view.  I think having him come back and immediately enter a playoff chase would put him under too much strain.  If the team was terrible playing mostly garbage time type basketball that would make more sense for me to see him.

[jpotter33]

via Ramona on ESPN: "I still have not made a decision on whether or not I am coming back this year" - Jayson Tatum

Imagine all that, including the docuseries, and then at the end he's like "and with that, see you all next year" 

I think the docuseries pretty much seals it that he's coming back. There's too much smoke around him coming back at this point, including the docuseries.  I think - fair or not - he'd get a lot of pushback if he doesn't come back at this point, because while they've been "saying" all the right things, all signs have been pointing towards him coming back for most of the year.

[ChillyWilly]

Oddly enough I want to see what this team can do without JT in the playoffs. Will the ball movement continue or will late quarter playoff basketball grind us to a halt?

[Phantom255x]

Oddly enough I want to see what this team can do without JT in the playoffs. Will the ball movement continue or will late quarter playoff basketball grind us to a halt?

I think the biggest issue would be 4th quarters, and also teams might decide to double or hone in on Jaylen, and it becomes an issue of if Jaylen can handle it (the dribbling/turnovers + making decisions), or can the others do enough to win if Jaylen is limited.

Depending on first round matchup, we could make it past it still. But if it's a team like Orlando first round, idk. I'm sure they will utilize ball movement and hustle out there, but playoffs are a different beast. Tatum's presence opens up a lot even in the postseason, whereas I'll be honest while Jaylen has been MVP caliber this season I'm not so sure he could be a #1 in the playoffs if we're thinking a deep run. Ceiling is probably a first round series win, that's it.

[Roy H.]

via Ramona on ESPN: "I still have not made a decision on whether or not I am coming back this year" - Jayson Tatum

Imagine all that, including the docuseries, and then at the end he's like "and with that, see you all next year" 

I think the docuseries pretty much seals it that he's coming back. There's too much smoke around him coming back at this point, including the docuseries.  I think - fair or not - he'd get a lot of pushback if he doesn't come back at this point, because while they've been "saying" all the right things, all signs have been pointing towards him coming back for most of the year.

My guess is that if he decided not to come back, there would be a cover story about a setback in his recovery. 

[Goldstar88]

Oddly enough I want to see what this team can do without JT in the playoffs. Will the ball movement continue or will late quarter playoff basketball grind us to a halt?

I think the biggest issue would be 4th quarters, and also teams might decide to double or hone in on Jaylen, and it becomes an issue of if Jaylen can handle it (the dribbling/turnovers + making decisions), or can the others do enough to win if Jaylen is limited.

Depending on first round matchup, we could make it past it still. But if it's a team like Orlando first round, idk. I'm sure they will utilize ball movement and hustle out there, but playoffs are a different beast. Tatum's presence opens up a lot even in the postseason, whereas I'll be honest while Jaylen has been MVP caliber this season I'm not so sure he could be a #1 in the playoffs if we're thinking a deep run. Ceiling is probably a first round series win, that's it.

Agreed. They have no real shot without Tatum. JT has played and won a championship with a lot of these guys. He?s also been sitting on the bench, watching these
games. I don?t think it?s going to be difficult for him to fit back in.

[jpotter33]

Oddly enough I want to see what this team can do without JT in the playoffs. Will the ball movement continue or will late quarter playoff basketball grind us to a halt?

I think the biggest issue would be 4th quarters, and also teams might decide to double or hone in on Jaylen, and it becomes an issue of if Jaylen can handle it (the dribbling/turnovers + making decisions), or can the others do enough to win if Jaylen is limited.

Depending on first round matchup, we could make it past it still. But if it's a team like Orlando first round, idk. I'm sure they will utilize ball movement and hustle out there, but playoffs are a different beast. Tatum's presence opens up a lot even in the postseason, whereas I'll be honest while Jaylen has been MVP caliber this season I'm not so sure he could be a #1 in the playoffs if we're thinking a deep run. Ceiling is probably a first round series win, that's it.

Agreed. They have no real shot without Tatum. JT has played and won a championship with a lot of these guys. He?s also been sitting on the bench, watching these
games. I don?t think it?s going to be difficult for him to fit back in.

Agreed on all counts. While the C?s have been a nice story, I think without Tatum a second round exit is the most likely, as the playoffs are just a different animal.

Also, if there is one ?plug and play? superstar in this league that you could throw into this situation, it?s Tatum.