If he doesn't come back this week, I don't see him returning for a road game especially with 3 tough teams. If not, it probably will be 3/14, just like his contract (314M) and the St. Louis area code.
March 14th is a start of a 7-game stretch with 6 being at home, and no back-to-backs, so I think it will be then if it is not Wednesday.
March 14 (3/14) is also Pi day (Pi being the irrational number that represents the ratio between the circumference and the diameter of a circle). Not sure the possible metaphorical significance of that, perhaps that Tatum has come full circle?
March 14 would be fine with me. If it gets much later than that, you have to start wondering if it will happen at all. The last game of the season is on Apr 12. There would be 16 games remaining, including the game on March 14. That still seems like enough for him to be ready for the playoffs, but not sure it can be much less than that.
Yeah I think if he gets 15 games under his belt, he'll be fine. Because also, there's basically the week between the end of regular season and start of the first round due to the play-in tournament, and also I doubt Tatum will be relied upon or need to play 35+ MPG regularly in the first round series either. In the meantime he can continue getting acclimated and I'm sure he'll be practicing and scrimmaging behind the scenes.
It's got to be March 14 or 16 at the latest though. If he's not back by then, then yeah it'll be tough for him to ramp up in time. 3/14 is also two weeks away from now, which is a decent amount of time for him to "get right" if he feels he needs it from the recent practicing.
I've always felt though, even many months ago that 3/4 or 3/6 were the most realistic and I'm predicting that. The next injury report will be very very interesting, even if they say Tatum is maybe doubtful for 3/4 but then comes back 3/6?