Boston Celtics guard Jayson Tatum will soon return to the starting lineup for the team, after being out for almost two weeks due to testing positive for COVID-19 and following safety protocols associated with containing the virus.
The Celtics tweeted an update that reported promising news for the team:
#NEBHInjuryReport update: Brad Stevens says of Jayson Tatum, “I think he’s closer rather than not. He’ll work out today, tomorrow in Boston, and then we’ll go from there.”
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 22, 2021
After anyone who tests positive for the virus, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens makes sure to ease the player back into competitive play gradually, always taking into account the number of minutes each player should play at practice, via Bobby Manning of SBNation. Manning also reported Stevens' take on the process of getting his players back on the floor:
“The cardiac screening has to be done before you enter the gym and before you can do anything,” Stevens said. “I would never want to put somebody out there who hasn’t gone through that. Then the minutes restriction is then decided by … how many minutes were they playing prior to and what was their activity level during the 14 days, which is usually none.”
It's safe to say that Stevens understands the injury process and wants to ensure that his players do not overexert themselves. He is okay knowing that means players may be returning to the floor a little later than usual, but if it means that Tatum will be healthy for the rest of the season, he's willing to take that risk.
After dropping two games against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics will play the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow and the Chicago Bulls on Monday. A team riddled with injuries, the Celtics' main priority will be making sure Tatum is ready to go for the long-run.
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