[Bill Simmons] All signs point toward Jayson Tatum making his season debut on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.
I thought the signs were pointing to yesterday vs the Sixers
They’re mobile signs
Think howls moving castle except it’s signs pointing to Tatums return
Keeps getting pushed around you’d think it was a defender in front of Tatum “driving”
Little forced with this one
Kobe!
They were 😞
I think the previous “sign” was everyone mistakenly taking NBC moving the game to 8:00 as Tatum’s return. The move was clearly just to showcase what looked like a much better game than anyone expected before the season.
Not sure what sign actually points to Dallas though. Tatum is clearly getting very close, and there are less than 6 weeks to the playoffs, so if he’s returning it’s going to happen soon. But specifically Friday? He’s just postulating.
I’m not going to believe he’s playing until it’s announced. That said, it likely needs to be in the next couple weeks. I think if they get into late March/early April, you start wondering if he has enough time to get his feet wet before the playoffs. Last game of the season is April 12.
Yes, if he’s going to return this year, it’s happening in March. But whether that is March 1, March 6, March 15, or March 25 - I don’t think it matters too much. He realistically probably needs 8-10 games and there are 22 left.
I’m going to 3⁄25 vs. OKC. So, while I’d prefer he come earlier, it would be pretty baller if that was his first.
They weren’t. People were just assuming them changing it to national televised game meant something but the truth is they just knew nobody would have watched Okc vs Dallas. Mavs are tanking and cooper is hurt. At the time of the switch Shai was hurt too.
Only some signs said that.
i’m not believing anything other than the injury report
Didnt he say the 1ST also?
I’m pretty sure he says sixers or the mavs
Yes lmao
Coming back from an Achilles in 10 months? And being able to contribute to a top 2 seed? Im not doubting Tatum but im sure ss hell not believing this shtick
Well he’s been way ahead of the normal curve from day 1, and the team has been progressing him slowly towards a return for months now. He’s been practicing for a while and is running full scrimmages. So yes, he is indeed close, and I think it would be more surprising if he doesn’t return.
As to how he’ll look and contribute? Who knows. I don’t think anybody is expecting 1st Team All-NBA Tatum this year. But 25 minutes of 80% Tatum in the playoffs would be a massive boost to Boston.
I feel like they say that about every big injury these days and the guy ends up being out the typical time. Not saying that will happen here but it’s gonna have to be a see it to believe it thing for me.
No? Lillard and Halliburton tore their achilles right about the same time as Tatum, and neither of them were even remotely on the radar to return this season.
Tatum had already had surgery by the time they even publicly announced the injury, and all the doctors said that would be a huge factor in a quicker recovery. Which seems to be proving true.
Kyrie was supposed to be back by the new year lol, it’s a first see then believe kind of thing with these big injuries
Wasn’t Haliburton like a month later?
Just looked it up, Tatum 5⁄12 and Haliburton 6⁄22
Return to sport protocol for a torn Achilles is technically 9-12 so he’s within that range. Its just not really a wise idea to bring someone back so late into the season. My issue is that by the time he may get into game shape, teams are already in playoff mode. Plus with the changed the Celtics made, he’ll have to rebuild chemistry especially since the Celtics are doing so well.
My issue is that by the time he may get into game shape, teams are already in playoff mode.
He should be in game shape - he’s been running since September, so it’s not like he just got out of a walking boot here. I think it’s more just about knocking off the rust and learning to not play scared of injuring himself again.
Plus with the changed the Celtics made, he’ll have to rebuild chemistry especially since the Celtics are doing so well.
This is really not an issue. Perhaps if they tried to make the offense run through Tatum immediately it would shake things up, but I don’t think anybody sees that happening. Celtics just added Vucevic out of nowhere for 25 minutes a night and they’re 6-2 with him. Tatum is a guy that most of this team knows really well, so tossing him in there for 25 minutes isn’t going to suddenly disrupt everything.
Tatum is a guy that most of this team knows really well, so tossing him in there for 25 minutes isn’t going to suddenly disrupt everything.
The biggest thing to watch will be whether they start reverting back to an iso-heavy offense as opposed to the pivot to how they’ve played this season. Tatum’s early minutes will likely hinge on how well he’s integrated into the system the rest of the team has already been running. I would be more concerned about mental game speed than physical at this point.
I think it’s more just about knocking off the rust and learning to not play scared of injuring himself again.
That’s literally what it means to get into game shape…
For the second point, yes they mainly added Vucevic but they lost 3 key rotation players in Holiday, Horford, and KP. Couple that with how the team had to learn to play this year without Tatum as well, it’s very much a different situation. Plus we dont know how Tatum will do or what he’ll be like when he gets back.
Kobe came back from his Achilles tear around 10 months too, although he ended up getting a different injury pretty quickly
Yeah agreed…10 months on an Achilles in general is not a good idea at all imo. I do not like this. If he’s fine, good, but it makes me nervous.
It’s not like an ACL where you have supporting muscles you can strengthen to support the knee and your new graft, it’s all just soft tissue, which heals very gradually due to low blood flow.
Athletes have access to sports medicine we can only dream of. However I do know a few people that have torn Achilles and obviously they are not younger athletes with peak medicine, but even a year later something as pedestrian as walking can feel awkward. I would be really surprised to see Tatum be able to play more than 20 minutes for any of these regular season games. Achilles injuries are especially cumbersome unlike how the ACL affects some movement you depend on your Achilles to be involved in everything. So I agree with you, it’s quite shocking.
Athletes have access to sports medicine we can only dream of. However I do know a few people that have torn Achilles and obviously they are not younger athletes with peak medicine, but even a year later something as pedestrian as walking can feel awkward.
Walking shouldn’t feel awkward after a year if you went the surgical route and followed the rehab protocol.
Tatum will be fine and will definitely play over 20mins. Maybe not right to start but towards the end of the season when he’s gearing up for the playoffs
Regular people don’t do the daily and non stop rehab that athletes will do. That’s why there’s always a huge difference in healing times.
Seems risky to me. The practice footage released made me think he didn’t really have his legs under him.
I’d be interested to see what kind of defense he can even play.
flair checks out
What is the username?
It looks like patscelticslions, though I’m not wearing my glasses.
Lions meaning Penn State not Detroit lol
tatum back is kinda scary ngl
One of your fellow Knick fans said I was crazy to suggest such.
im sure you know thats just bias. celtics are already beating us in the standings. with at worst their second best player back they are objectively going to be even better.
the Celtics being ahead of us is probably a function of the Knicks themselves…they went through the rough adjustment period early on this season with a new coach/system, and then that awful 2-9 stretch followed the NBA Cup where a series of people, including a bunch of our own fans lol, gave up on the team…meanwhile, and this is to Boston’s credit, they have held on this season due to a heck of a coaching job by Mazulla
athlete recovery is insane with the growth of sports science and just general treatments that exist today, but the question with Tatum is if he might be coming back too soon from a brutal, long term injury that happened just last May…we’ll see
Dude can just sit in the corner and shoot 3s and it might be a problem
If you bet based on Bill Simmons’ Celtics turbo optimism you deserve to lose your money.
Need better signs.
Put Bill Simmons on a rocket and send him to space
Don’t send him any cheesy movies, don’t give him any robot pals. Just shoot him straight into limitless space.
Please. The sooner the better.
bill simmons is only marginally less annoying than stephen a smith
If you are a Celtic fan, otherwise…
nah, he’s still annoying af and has the voice of a cartoon mouse.
But he’s shoehorning a team you care about into every conversation rather than one you don’t. It’s like when Dee Brown was drafted by the Celtics.
The signs have been pointing for years that bill simmons is an idiot
Okay
bill fell to his knees in a wendy’s parking lot
Arby’s
Did he rupture his Achilles too?
If Tatum’s coming back, then surely Flagg’s going to push to be back as well ⛳️
Back in New England vs. his childhood idol and fellow Blue Devil!
Flagg shouldn’t any “pushing” this year. No need to play unless he’s 100%
Simmons constant speculation on the specific date is annoying but I’m pretty confident he’s going to be back on the court soon
I sincerely hope if so it’s not a mistake that causes a setback.
Happy for him. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
And for your team.
Role player Tatum? And let the rest of the team cook or try to make him the Tatum of old?
I doubt they go back to a Tatum centric this year. Brown has been awesome but more importantly, the guys around Brown have been awesome in this offense. While I think the best version of the Celtics is with JT at the helm, I think with him coming off the injury that a large majority of the outcomes are worse with him leading the O this year.
I think a lot depends on how he looks. There’s no reason to rock any boats right now, but the minutes/touches are certainly there if Tatum is ready. Scheierman has been playing relatively well, but that would still be an insane upgrade to Tatum.
Payton Pritchard and Tatum are going to lead the bench squad. With Hugo Gonzales, Vuc and Walsh, they are going to feast on other teams bench.
I can’t wait for Bill Simmons 20 minute segments on how good the Celtics will be the rest of the year when Tatum comes back
Everyone clowning on Bill (probably rightly so) but Friday would make a lot of sense as it’s a national televised weekend home game. This sub knows more than most how much JT loves the drama so he’s going to want to return on a national broadcast and the only other upcoming options would be 3⁄18 vs Ws or 3⁄22 vs Minny. I think he needs to return sooner than those games to start shaking off the rust before the playoffs.
Sigh I really don’t want him to return on a national tv game. Wish he’d return on a NBCSB game and have no pressure and not be on national tv and just play for us Celtics fans
JT loves the drama
???
Would be so funny if it somehow turns the team chemistry to shit
Great news for the NBA when Tatum comes back, no need to rush a bit.
Great PO in the east with detroit, Boston, ny and cleveland if all play their best basketball.
He can come off the bench for a few games, just a few minutes to gauge his body reaction
I feel he can have some Q2 and Q3 minutes these remaining games and the playoffs
Someone needs to lock the sauna the next time Bill goes in.
Insider bill
Good. Help us get Dybantsa
I feel like his first game back would be a home game
They televise this then make bets
All signs point to 3⁄14. This guy allegedly signed a 314 mil extension instead of 315 so it could be the St. Louis area code. I sincerely doubt he wants to come back and immediately face the gauntlet of Cleveland, San Antonio and Oklahoma. It makes way more sense for him to come back after those games on 3⁄14 at home against a trash wizards team and then ramp up for 5 games until having to play the Thunder.
Praying for him. I’m sure that the teams medical wouldn’t be releasing him to play this early if they didn’t believe in what they see during the rehab
Bill Simmons Kalshi partnership announcement on Saturday
Botox bills doc been working’ ot!
That’s gonna be a wait and see for me
Guess we are like the Lakers everybody coming back against us. Now we might lose that game!
It’s crazy to say but I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes back and the team becomes worse overall, they’ve genuinely been in rhythm for a while now.
This.
Been waiting for this, the league’s been poorer without him
I know he’s probably got some sources but it’s amazing how often this sub posts bill simmons just thinking things out loud as news
What bet has Giannis placed on Kalshi about this? If we are insider trading, I want in on the action.
I’m loving all the comments from the Knicks, Pistons, and Cavs fans saying this is a bad idea lmao
When the Celtics get eliminated in the playoffs Jaylen Brown will blame Tatum. He might have a point too
I hope he doesn’t so we can get more fools who bet their rent on polymarket crash out on this sub lol
Debate aside regardless of when you really think he should’ve returned I would’ve liked to see him return against Philly yesterday, holy fuck were we blue balled on that, especially with his announcement on his instagram thing for some sponsorship
I’d be pissed if I were his teammates. Just sit the season out dude, his performance legit might hurt the team.
What is his source?
Returning ahead of the expected schedule to play games down the stretch and into the playoffs seems like a lot to ask of Tatum. Even if the players wants to play and is minute restricted.
Idk for me I either want him coming back this week or not at all. I want as long of a ramp as possible before the playoffs, and anything less than a month just feels like not enough time.
I think when he does come he’ll definitely be on restricted minutes, I don’t want him to rush back but if Doctors okay it than the team will need him to play before a playoff run to get the rotations back down.
Technically he’s kind of within schedule at 10 months as it’s usually 9-12 months to return to sport but yes. Coming back to play late stretch basketball with every game being important for seeding implications isnt ideal.
Super long ramp up I’m guessing.. not from injury straight to 40mpg like the Nuggets. He could still be on minute restriction into the playoffs. If the healing is genuinely ahead of schedule you can’t just sit him out for the season because that’s how long that injury has always taken.
Love the sweatshirt Zach
Was supposed to be yesterday according to Simmons 🤣
I doubt it.
No way Bill doesn’t say this without a source?
bahahahaaahahaahahahahaaaaa
Can Simmons just shut up
Because he has some info and is passing it along on his pod?
It aint gonna happen man
It’s literally going to happen man, if not this Friday, then soon.