4 questions facing Celtics ahead of Jayson Tatum's expected return

"Less than 10 months after Jayson Tatum first crumpled to the hardwood at Madison Square Garden with a ruptured Achilles tendon, the Celtics superstar forward is close to a return to the parquet. For the first time all season, the Celtics upgraded Tatum from "Out" to "Questionable" in their latest injury report ahead of Friday's home game against the Dallas Mavericks."

"Tatum's accelerated return from such a major injury stands as a major lift for the Celtics, who currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 41-21 record. An effective Tatum could put Boston over the top in a wide-open East playoff field this spring."

"In one of the latest episodes of his docu-series, "The Quiet Work", Tatum was candid about his upcoming role with Boston. "I ain't coming back to be no role player," Tatum acknowledged."

"Returning to game action less than a year after tearing your Achilles is an impressive feat. But Tatum is not going to be the same superstar talent he was last May - at least not at this stage of his recovery."

Jayson Tatum is on the verge of returning to action less than 10 months after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon at Madison Square Garden. The Celtics upgraded his status from "Out" to "Questionable" for Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks, with ESPN reporting an expectation he will play. Tatum has stated he is not returning as a role player, though realistic expectations must be set given the severity of his injury. The Celtics, currently 41-21 and in second place in the Eastern Conference, hope Tatum's return strengthens their playoff positioning. However, he will not immediately return to his previous superstar level, requiring Joe Mazzulla to carefully manage rotations and Tatum's role during the stretch run.

Read at Boston.com