The Boston Celtics are sitting at 11-9 after Sunday night’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, but let’s not pretend this is the version of the team fans expected to see heading into the season. With Jayson Tatum sidelined and the rotation stretched thin, Boston’s depth has been put to the test - and that’s putting it mildly.
Neemias Queta, Josh Minott, and Jordan Walsh have all seen a noticeable uptick in minutes, and to their credit, they’ve stepped up. These aren’t just warm bodies filling space - they’re young players making the most of their opportunity. But let’s be real: for a team with championship aspirations, relying this heavily on unproven talent isn’t the blueprint for a deep playoff run.
The elephant in the room, of course, is Tatum. The All-NBA forward is recovering from a torn Achilles - an injury that typically shelves players for a year or more.
But Tatum isn’t your typical case. He’s already dunking just five months post-surgery, and by all accounts, he’s ahead of schedule.
Whether that’s the result of cutting-edge medical treatment, immediate surgery, or just Tatum’s relentless work ethic, one thing is clear: he wants to be back on the floor this season.
That’s admirable. But is it wise?
There’s a growing sentiment that rushing Tatum back might not be the best move - not for him, and not for the Celtics. The team is currently hovering in Play-In territory, and if the postseason started today, they’d be looking at a win-or-go-home scenario just to earn a first-round matchup against one of the East’s top seeds - think Detroit, New York, or whoever else finishes near the top. That’s a brutal path, especially for a team missing its cornerstone for most of the season.
Let’s say Tatum does return. The Celtics would need him to immediately return to superstar form - logging 35+ minutes a night, carrying the offense, and masking the team’s glaring weaknesses, particularly in the frontcourt. That’s a tall order for anyone, let alone someone coming off one of the most serious injuries in basketball.
And let’s not ignore the bigger picture. Boston made some bold moves in the offseason, including dealing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis.
That wasn’t about chasing a title this year - it was about resetting the books and positioning the team for long-term success. Shedding salary, creating flexibility, and giving younger players a chance to grow - that’s the direction this front office is leaning.
So what’s the play here?
If you’re the Celtics, you have to weigh the long-term health of your franchise player against the slim odds of a deep playoff run this season. Tatum is in his prime.
He’s the face of the franchise. Rushing him back for a Play-In push might scratch the competitive itch, but it could also jeopardize everything the team is building toward.
This season might not be about hanging banners - and that’s okay. It can still be valuable.
Let the young guys get reps. Let the coaching staff experiment.
Use this time to build a foundation that’s stronger when Tatum is fully healthy and ready to lead again.
Because when that happens - when Tatum is back at full strength, surrounded by a deeper, more experienced roster - that’s when Boston can truly make its move. Not just to compete, but to dominate.