The Boston Celtics are playing in a deciding Game 7 on Saturday afternoon. After blowing a 3-1 lead, this is what Boston has to do in order to advance to the next round. However, Jayson Tatum suffered an injury in Game 6 in the third quarter.
Tatum is coming off a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered last season in the playoffs. He was able to return just 10 months later in what was an incredible turnaround. Because of that, the Celtics have to be very careful with his health moving forward.
Yet, following Game 6, Tatum says he isn’t injured. Despite that assertion, former Celtics player Kendrick Perkins believes the team should think about sitting him for Game 7.
GettyBoston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum drives the ball. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Kendrick Perkins Thinks the Celtics Should Consider Sitting Jayson Tatum for Game 7
While speaking on First Take, Perkins believes that Boston should think about sitting him in Game 7 against the 76ers.
“I’m gonna say this to the Celtics and the medical staff and everybody. I’m not going to question them because I’m not a doctor. But I’ve also been through a lot of injuries and a lot of surgeries. And I tore my ACL, and what the doctor told me is ‘Hey Perk. The only bad news that I have for you is that you have a higher percentage of tearing your other ACL because you overcompensate on that leg.’ So when you think about what you just said with Tatum, if he’s feeling any type of discomfort, he might have to sit out Game 7.”
Tatum and the medical staff have come out and said that he doesn’t have any sort of injury. With that being the case, there is almost no chance that Tatum would sit out Game 7. He wants to be out there helping his team try to advance in the playoffs after sitting out most of the year.
GettyBoston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum shoots the ball in a game against the 76ers. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Boston Needs Jayson Tatum to Beat the 76ers
With how the Celtics have played against the Sixers, they need Tatum to win that series. Tatum is averaging over 23 points per game on almost 48 percent shooting in this series. Without him, Boston’s offense becomes much worse. They need him to be an offensive threat.
In the postseason, the Celtics have the fourth-best offense of the playoff teams. Without Tatum, that number would certainly fall back. With Joel Embiid back in the fold, the 76ers have their best player back. He was the best player on the floor in Game 6.
Perkins’ assertion that Boston should sit Tatum is not a smart one. If Tatum was listed on the injury report, that could make a little more sense. But since he has been cleared by the training staff, he is going to play as hard as he can in Game 7 to help the Celtics win.
Game 7 is on Saturday night at 7:30 pm ET on NBC and Peacock.
Former Celtics Player Thinks Boston Should Consider Sitting Jayson Tatum in Game 7