The Boston Celtics are, in fact, better with Jayson Tatum back
Jayson Tatum has taken the Boston Celtics to another level since his return, helping them to a 13-2 record in game's he's played
Before Jayson Tatum returned to the Boston Celtics rotation on March 6, there were concerns that his reintroduction into the lineup could unsettle a team that has defied expectations this season. Players' roles would change, touches would be redistributed, and because of that, some fans were concerned Boston would hit some turbulence down the final stretch of the season. That hasn't been the case at all.
In the 16 games Tatum has played, the Celtics are 13-3 , their only losses coming against the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves. Granted, Tatum has sat out two games since March 6, both losses, the first against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the second against the Atlanta Hawks. Even if you include those outings, Boston is 15-4, and it's 19 games since Tatum came back.
On March 29, the "Almost Rusty Buckets" YouTube channel released a video explaining why Boston is better with Tatum on the floor, even as he continued to play his way back to full game shape. Now, almost two weeks later, it's clear the video was right. The Celtics look like a legitimate championship contender and an Eastern Conference powerhouse.
Tatum has taken the team to a new level, courtesy of a faster-than-expected return to elite-level production. You can watch the full video from "Almost Rusty Buckets" by clicking on the embedded link above. Watch or listen to the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on: YouTube: https://bit.