When Tatum went down
The alarming possibility the Celtics are done
HENRY
I’m probably getting way ahead of myself here, but I feel like everything quite probably just changed forever in Boston.
This is a VERY expensive team, and will be even more expensive in the future. Al Horford is 38, Jrue Holiday is 34, Derrick White is 30.
27 is about the oldest age that NBA stars peak, and the Celtics don’t have a single key rotation player who is younger than that. It has long seemed likely to me that it’s only a matter of time before the people who count the beans in Boston find ways to jettison a big contract or two to avoid the nastiest backwaters of the luxury tax. Boston’s slated to have $228 million in salary next season (the projected salary cap is $154.6 million) while still needing to fill five open roster spots and sign Al Horford and Luke Kornet.
When you’re outspending Mat Ishbia, things are wild.
If Tatum’s injury is as serious as every internet doctor seems to think, he’s about to miss a chunk of time. Come next February, when the Tatumless Celtics are middling in the standings, it might feel indulgent that Derrick White, at $28 million, will have the team's fifth-highest salary after Tatum ($54m), Brown ($53m), Jrue Holiday ($32m), Kristaps Porziņģis ($31m).
This is a harsh business, I imagine the only way Tatum returns to an intact roster is if he does so against the Knicks in the next few days. In other words, it’s the end of the world as Celtics fans know it.
Even worse: even with Tatum, they were losing to the Knicks. Change would make sense anyway.
DAVID
I spoke to someone with the Celtics organization before Game 3. That person said to me, through most of the series, “we've been so much better than them. And then for small parts of the series, they've been way better than us.”
So which is more accurate?
In Game 3, it was the former. It was the Celtics dominating.
The X and Os are super important, but you have to know how to push buttons, and they're not the same buttons as Coach K and Dean Smith and John Cheney, because in college those are kids that you're coaching.
Game 4 was a replay of the first two games. Boston played in dominating fashion for long stretches, but simply lacked the cohesive fight to keep it up. The Knicks are, quite clearly, built for these playoffs, unnerved, fearless, tough as fuck, and–armed with a fully healthy Jalen Brunson–simply better in fourth quarters. The Celtics have no answer for him.
It would take an almighty collective effort to win three straight against Brunson and his teammates. And with what looks to be a terrible injury to Jayson Tatum, it’s not easy to imagine the Celtics can find enough belief.
Thank you for reading TrueHoop!
how does this beating (harsh word but....) from the knicks change the perception, retroactively, of boston? For me, I was always of the (minority) opinion that last year's champs were not as good as they seemed)....they had a stunning long flaming hot barrage of threes. Singular.- but they werent a legendary team or even close or ever going to get that status. Mazzula is a not a great coach. He's an appealing sort of cynic during post game interviews but not a great coach. Thibs isnt either but he's damn sure better than maz. I think thibs deserves credit though. I admit when the Bridges and Anunoby trade happened......I thoought, shit, this is a contending team. I though both, even bridges, were great trades. I was not convinced the KAT trade was great. But i get why randle had become somehow not perfect in that lineup starting for new york. But KAT was such a defensive problem, even the improved version. Well, turns out that trade was win / win for minny and the knicks. KAT has been unique on this defensiive roster. Its brunson's team but KAT is his second in command. And now i actually want to see indiana vs new york. Assuming the cavs fold (injuries are so unfair).....Indiana deserves credit AND my point that i am taking forever to get to is...rick carlise is now the best remaining coach in the post season. Chris Finch is good...really good...micah nouri also....but carlise has never got the respect he deserves. Maybe this year.
When does new ownership take control of the team? I felt really sorry for JT--what a horrible injury! But there were not going anywhere this year. And the cap hell they are in probably means they need to make some changes. It will be fascinating to watch this unfold.
Nice Read! I hope you will continue to keep us informed about their future.