NEW YORK – Jaylen Brown took a seat at the podium with his head down.
“It’s tough,” he said after a long exhale.
“There’s not really much to say,” he added, shaking his head after a seven-second pause.
There were plenty of deep breaths and long silences throughout the night following the Celtics’ 121-113 loss to the Knicks — a loss that put them in a 3-1 hole in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. But the result was secondary.
The main concern was Jayson Tatum.
“Tonight is tough,” Brown added. “I think everybody is kinda at a loss for words. Just because – one, losing the game. But obviously, the concern with JT.”
Just over three minutes after tying Larry Bird and John Havlicek for the most 40-point playoff games in Celtics history — and earlier passing Sam Jones for fourth on the franchise’s all-time postseason scoring list — Tatum went down with a non-contact injury to his lower leg. As he writhed in pain on the Madison Square Garden floor, signaling for a timeout himself, it was clear this wasn’t something he’d simply walk off.
And he didn’t.
Tatum, who has played more games and logged more than 1,500 minutes more than any other player (regular and postseason combined) since he entered the league eight years ago, had to be carried off the court, unable to put any pressure on his leg.
“Obviously, you are always worried about someone’s health. So the fact that he had to be carried off – he’s the type of guy who gets right up,” said head coach Joe Mazzulla. “He didn’t, and we’ll know tomorrow exactly what it is. It’s tough to watch a guy like him get carried off like that.”
The soon-to-be five-time All-NBA selection had done everything possible to save the Celtics. He poured in 42 points on 16-of-28 shooting (57.1%) and went 7-of-16 (43.8%) from deep. He added eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks — a playoff stat line matched only by Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon.
But even with his brilliance, Boston couldn’t stop the bleeding.
The Celtics were outscored 70-51 in the second half, undone by defensive lapses and their inability to keep New York off the boards. And now, a team many expected to end the NBA’s six-year streak of different champions — and five-year streak of defending champs failing to reach the conference finals — finds itself on the brink, with even bigger questions looming after the loss of Tatum.
“I think everybody’s concerned with Jayson,” Brown said. “I’m not sure how bad it is. Didn’t look great. But I think everybody is kind of more concerned with (the injury). Obviously, the loss is huge. But we’ve got to get ready for Game 5, so we’ll take the night and pick our heads up tomorrow and put together a game plan to come out on our own floor to keep this series alive.”
There was a clear sense of shock, sorrow, and emptiness from the Celtics after the game. While no one will know the full extent of Tatum’s injury until Tuesday’s MRI, the early belief is that it may be a serious Achilles injury — one that could alter not just the rest of this season, but the future of the franchise as a whole.
UPDATE: The Celtics announced on Tuesday that, as feared, Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon. He underwent surgery on Tuesday, and there is no timetable for his recovery.
In the micro, the team is now tasked with climbing out of a 3-1 deficit — something only 13 of 293 teams (4.4%) have done. It’s something the Celtics haven’t accomplished since 1981, when Larry Bird led them back against the 76ers, averaging 26.7 points, 13.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks. Only this time, they’ll have to do it without their equivalent of Bird in Tatum, who leads the team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and plus-minus this postseason.
“Obviously, that’s our brother, so you hate to see him go down,” said Derrick White. “We just know the type of guy he is, and it’s just tough to see him go down. But, obviously, right now it’s pretty low because of the game. Just gotta find a way to win Game 5.”
In the macro, a team already facing major offseason questions now finds itself under an even harsher spotlight. Especially, if it’s the worst-case scenario — a torn Achilles — that would likely sideline Tatum for most, if not all, of next season.
The financial picture for the Celtics has been established. They are well over the second apron, and are projected to carry a payroll with luxury taxes totaling nearly $464 million next year, before even filling out the roster or making a first-round pick. That would make them the league’s first $500 million team.
As Wyc Grousbeck explained to The Greg Hill Show in March, apron restrictions take away significant basketball resources. Combine that with a historic luxury bill, and life in the second apron becomes incredibly difficult. If next season is a wash for Tatum, the front office may be forced to start trimming salary this summer — a reality that’s been looming for months, but just got a lot harder to ignore.
When this group was assembled, it was understood they wouldn’t stay together forever. That’s the harsh reality of the NBA’s new CBA. And while Bill Chisholm and the new ownership group could still choose to run it back, it’s hard to envision that happening without a healthy Tatum.
If this is how it ends for this core, it’s a tough pill to swallow. However, it should only deepen the appreciation for what they accomplished by raising that 10-by-15-foot banner that now hangs above the parquet.