The Boston Celtics were supposed to be in reset mode this season. After some key roster shakeups and Jayson Tatum’s devastating Achilles tear in last year’s playoffs, expectations were dialed way down.
Typically, an injury like that sidelines a star for the better part of a year - and often longer. But here we are in February, and the Celtics aren’t just surviving.
They’re thriving.
At 34-19, Boston sits second in the Eastern Conference standings. That’s not the profile of a team rebuilding - that’s the profile of a team contending. Jaylen Brown has stepped up in a big way, playing like a legitimate MVP candidate, and head coach Joe Mazzulla has kept the ship steady, getting reliable production from a roster that many thought would be playing for draft position, not playoff seeding.
The Pistons are still leading the East at 39-13, but Boston has real breathing room behind them, with the Knicks, Cavaliers, and Raptors all in the mix. The Celtics aren’t being crowned just yet - not without their franchise cornerstone - but the conversation shifts fast if Jayson Tatum returns.
And that’s exactly what Celtics legend Paul Pierce was getting at during a recent episode of No Fouls Given. Pierce made his case clearly: if Tatum comes back, Boston should be considered the favorite in the East.
“I think the Celtics should be the favorite in the East,” Pierce said. “As we're talking today, they're second in the East.
They bring in a first team All-NBA player. Coming off of an Achilles.
We don't need him to be a first teamer to get better. He just has to be a presence - a guy that can really knock down shots down the stretch, be another facilitator, use his intangibles.
That can be enough to make them better.”
Pierce even threw out a number: if Tatum can suit up for 20 of the final 28 regular season games, he thinks the Celtics could go 15-5 in that stretch. That’s the kind of late-season push that could shift playoff seeding and momentum heading into April.
Of course, all of that hinges on Tatum’s health - and on that front, there’s been some encouraging news.
Tatum gave an update on his recovery this week, after participating in portions of a practice with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League affiliate. That’s the first time he’s been involved in any team practice setting since the injury, and while it’s not a signal that a return is imminent, it is a meaningful step in the rehab process.
"I'm feeling good," Tatum told reporters. "It was good to be a part of practice yesterday with the Maine G League guys.
Today is 39 weeks, so it's been a long journey, and it's just the progression of rehab. It was the next step.
It doesn't mean that I'm coming back or not. It's just following the plan.
So, it's just another step."
Tatum was clear: this isn’t about timelines or return dates. It’s about staying on course with the rehab, hitting each milestone, and not rushing anything.
And the Celtics are on the same page. President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has been consistent - Tatum will return only when he’s 100% ready, physically and mentally.
No shortcuts.
That kind of patience is rare in a league that often demands urgency, but it’s the right call. If Tatum does make it back and can contribute down the stretch, Boston becomes a different kind of threat - deeper, more dynamic, and far more dangerous.
And if he doesn’t? They’re still a top-tier team in the East, with a battle-tested core and a coach who’s getting the most out of his group. But if Tatum does walk through that door - even at 85 or 90 percent - the Celtics might just go from dark horse to favorite.