Nov 19, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket whereas Cleveland Cavaliers ahead Evan Mobley (4) defends through the first half at TD Backyard. Necessary Credit score: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Photographs
Accidents are a part of basketball, and the Boston Celtics realized that firsthand after they misplaced Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Tatum suffered the damage throughout Monday night’s second-round playoff matchup and instantly underwent surgical procedure on Tuesday. His standing to swimsuit up and play within the 2025–26 NBA season is in severe doubt, because the 27-year-old famous person faces an extended highway to restoration.
Whereas that is devastating information for the Celtics—who look able to wave the white flag within the Japanese Convention semifinals—Tatum’s unlucky damage will open the door for a number of title contenders.
New York Knicks
The Knicks are the apparent group that can profit from Tatum’s damage. They give the impression of being primed to dethrone the Celtics within the present NBA playoffs.
This group was the darling of the offseason. Their trades for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Cities have been “win-now” maneuvers, made with hopes of gaining an edge in opposition to Boston. Now, we’re seeing that repay.
Cities, Bridges and Jalen Brunson are all underneath contract by way of no less than subsequent season. The Knicks are going to take down the Celtics this yr, and don’t be stunned in the event that they’re a severe favourite to return out of the East subsequent season as effectively.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers simply bounced the No. 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 video games. Bear in mind, Indiana made the Japanese Convention finals simply final season, the place they fell quick to the eventual NBA champion Celtics. This group is battle-tested.
The Pacers can rating a number of factors, however they simply didn’t possess the famous person energy to match Tatum and Jaylen Brown. However with out Tatum? Tyrese Haliburton actually seems able to take the torch as one of many league’s finest younger stars. Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner have been an excessive amount of for Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley to deal with.
So long as the Pacers can preserve their team-first identification intact, they may capitalize on a weak Japanese Convention subsequent season.
Cleveland Cavaliers
As embarrassing because the NBA playoffs have been for the Cavaliers but once more, they do have some excuses.
All-Star guard Darius Garland was so essential to Cleveland’s success all through the common season. He missed two video games in opposition to the Pacers with a badly injured huge toe, and when he returned, he simply didn’t have the burst to contribute offensively. Donovan Mitchell spent two video games in opposition to Indiana coping with a sprained calf, whereas Evan Mobley battled a sprained ankle and De’Andre Hunter had a dislocated thumb on his capturing hand.
The Cavs are prone to run it again subsequent season with some small tweaks. In an Japanese Convention with out Tatum, Cleveland ought to look to capitalize on its profitable common seasons and work out what continues to fail them come playoff time.
