BOSTON — Jayson Tatum virtually lit the web on hearth when he posted greater than three minutes of exercise movies on his Instagram story on Tuesday, revealing that he’s been cleared to play 1-on-1 basketball — and that he’s persevering with to progress properly after rupturing his Achilles tendon final Could.
Now, the Celtics is only a few days away from the seven-month anniversary of his harm (suffered Could twelfth), and Mazzulla careworn that his restoration timeline is in his arms and that the group gained’t be placing strain on him in any path. Achilles accidents recoveries can span anyplace from 7 to fifteen months, and it’s unclear if that broad window has been narrowed down for Tatum at this level.
“It’s all as much as him,” Mazzulla mentioned. “On the finish of the day, his well being is a very powerful factor, his course of is a very powerful factor. You belief him, belief the group that’s round him — he’s acquired an important group — and also you simply sort of go from there. So sort of simply all begins about the place he and his group suppose he’s at.”
Tatum has been touring with the Celtics since preseason, attending shootarounds, movie periods, and practices, and meticulously working via his rehab. That’s what Mazzulla has been most centered on.
“To me, the one factor I care about is his presence and his management, and he’s provided that in several methods — on the ground in video games, speaking with guys, in movie periods, touring with us,” Mazzulla mentioned. “On the finish of the day, he’s on our group. He’s part of our group. He’s serving to us get higher, after which every part else simply comes right down to him and the folks round him, and also you simply belief that.”
Mazzulla additionally made clear he gained’t be weighing in on Tatum’s restoration timeline: “There’s folks above me which are liable for that. It’s not my job. My job is to only assist him, be there for them, take heed to them, and on the finish of the day, you belief the folks which are round him.”
At Wednesday’s Celtics apply, Payton Pritchard was requested about whether or not he’s considered how Jayson Tatum may return and match into the group — and, like Mazzulla, he careworn that group is concentrated on Tatum’s restoration, at the start.
“If he comes again, and if he comes again wholesome and able to play, we all know the best way to play with him,” Pritchard mentioned. “It’s not like we’re bringing him in to guys he’s by no means performed with. So it’ll be a straightforward transition. However proper now, we’re simply specializing in the fellows which are enjoying proper now, getting higher and placing ourselves in the most effective place attainable.”
Whereas Jayson Tatum shot within the background of the scrum, Mazzulla credited Tatum for his diligence all through the method.
“I believe it’s tougher to rehab than it’s to be within the season generally as a result of you must do issues at a better depth, at a better tempo,” Mazzulla mentioned. “So he’s doing that. However I care extra about [the fact that] he’s on the group, he’s serving to us get higher. That’s a very powerful factor.”
