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Jayson Tatum’s injury decision will be the right choice for the Celtics

Jayson Tatum’s injury decision will be the right choice for the Celtics

You know how Batman has the Bat Signal to project a big light in the sky for when people need him the most? I have my own Bat Signal, except it’s exclusively for Boston Celtics content emergencies. I call it the “why is everyone in my day-to-day life asking me this question?” Signal. We’re working on the name.

Right now, the signal is going crazy with a simple message: will Jayson Tatum return to play for the Celtics this season? Contained in that question are easy follow-ups: should he return? Is he rushing back? Will it be bad for team chemistry? Is there going to be a conflict with Jaylen Brown, who’s been a low-key MVP candidate this year?

When the Signal is shining this bright, you know I have the answers. And the answers are … I don’t care. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I recuse myself. I pardon you all from the suffering of trying to answer these questions. I release you, because the answers are “unknowable and irrelevant,” two words to live by and also my nickname in college.

So to keep things knowable and relevant, here’s the distillation: Jayson Tatum returning to play this season is simply a non-issue for Celtics fans, for Boston sports media or for anyone else with their emotional or professional wellbeing wrapped up in the Boston basketball industrial complex. Whatever ends up being Tatum and the team’s decision will be the right decision, and there is no reason to worry about this.

There are two basic questions people are trying to answer: will Jayson Tatum come back this season, and should he come back. Both are not rational discussions and thus we should not have them. Here’s why.

First, I am not some kind of debate detractor. Generally, I think it’s fine to discuss anything in potent or polemical public pieces in parallel publications, such as whether the New England Patriots were frauds, if Olympic Curling is the best competitive entertainment product since Season 1 of Survivor or the necessity of aggressive alliteration with the letter P in the fifth paragraph of an article about Jayson Tatum. All of that is fair game, because the parameters of those discussions are reasonably equal.

The problem with the “will Jayson Tatum come back?” question is that any rational argument about that would require a baseline of medical information that we simply do not have. Reading tea leaves about the five-part docuseries about his road to recovery or that the NBA flexed a March 1 game to primetime on NBC suggests a fairly commercial motivation for returning to play, something I do not believe Tatum or the Celtics would ever risk.

Even more insane is trying to determine if he is rushing back from his injury or is putting himself at additional risk by not sitting out the whole season—as if any of us have literally any idea what we’re talking about in the field of a specific individual’s recovery from Achilles surgery. If you want to speculate on that, I have a quick questionnaire for you to fill out: 1. Are you an Achilles surgeon/specialist or do you have intimate access to one? 2. If yes, is said specialist Jayson Tatum’s doctor themselves? 3. If yes, you may now speculate.

Basically, it doesn’t matter if Tatum is rushing back from his injury; if he comes back, I am forced to assume it was the right decision because there is no planet where I could possibly dispute it. It’s a hard thing to do for someone who thinks they have a right to comment on everything that happens with this team, but I am hereby recusing myself entirely.

We move now to the basketball consequences of Tatum’s return, namely the glorious question of “should he return, even if healthy?” The Celtics are playing great, Jaylen Brown has been a revelation and it would be risky to disrupt such great chemistry, right? Maybe just see how this thing goes and bring Tatum back for next season, right? Right? RIGHT!?

If you are worried about that, I have yet another question for you: are you kidding me?

The Celtics not bringing back Jayson Tatum because they are worried he will make the team worse is like not cashing your monthly paycheck because you’re worried it will make your wallet a little heavier in your left pocket. It’s like not listening to the new Kendrick album because you’re worried you’ll like some songs and it will disrupt your carefully curated Spotify playlists by adding them. It’s like—are we being serious about asking if adding 27-year-old, four-time All-NBA First Team Jayson Tatum to the basketball team is going to make the team worse at basketball?!?

Basketball teams are not porcelain figurines that may break at the first stiff breeze they encounter. They are built through blood, sweat and work over months; they need every single piece they can get. If that piece is Tatum, it would be an excellent one to add. There is nothing more to litigate.

The reason people still want to litigate it is, probably, because there is real money riding on the Celtics in the form of win-total or Championship futures, Jaylen Brown MVP odds and an untold number of gambling stakes in whether Jayson Tatum returns or not. But even gambling discussions must base themselves on logical parameters, and as we have functionally proven, such parameters do not exist in this dojo.

If Tatum returns, it will be good for the Celtics. If something goes wrong afterward, it will be bad for the Celtics, but we have no reason to predict that given the presently available information. Hypothetical future narratives about re-injury or Tatum-Brown beef are pure speculation, something that also does not exist in this dojo. This dojo is rational, and thus, for now, closed.

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Deadspin | Stars in search of calm facing Game 6 elimination vs. Wild  Apr 28, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) skates with the puck past Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) and scores an empty net goal during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images   The Dallas Stars will look to play with a sense of calm as they face elimination in Game 6 against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in St. Paul.  Dallas has dropped back-to-back games in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals series and trails Minnesota 3-2, following Tuesday’s 4-2 loss in Game 5.  “You have to be able to play in these pressure situations,” said Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. “I don’t think it’s anything grit-related. I think that both teams were competing very hard last night (Tuesday), and you just have to actually have a little more of a sense of calm to be able to make a play under pressure.  “… We have to settle in and make some plays with some fluidity.”  Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson each scored a goal and added an assist while Jake Oettinger made 24 saves for the Stars, the regular-season No. 2 seed in the Central Division.  “We just couldn’t create enough, especially 5-on-5,” Heiskanen said. “That was the biggest issue (in Game 5). Just have to fix that and get better next game. We just have to simplify. I think there are times where we’re trying to do too much. Just simplify. Get guys to the net, get pucks to the net, and get a couple of crazy ones.”  Arttu Hyry left Tuesday’s game at 8:02 of the second period with a lower-body injury. Gulutzan said the Stars forward would travel to Minnesota with the team on Wednesday; however, defenseman Nils Lundkvist, who left Game 4 after suffering a facial cut from a skate, is not available for Game 6.  The Wild head home with an opportunity to win its first Western Conference quarterfinal series since 2015, when it dispatched the St. Louis Blues in six games.   “I think when we play a tight, connected, five-man unit, we’re usually at our best,” said Wild coach John Hynes. “I thought we were responsible, strong attention to detail, got some key saves when we needed them. Another game where we can continue to build and get better. You just focus day to day.”  Kirill Kaprizov scored a goal and added two helpers, while Matt Boldy added a goal and an assist for the Wild, who split Games 3 and 4 on home ice, both in overtime.  Mats Zuccarello and Michael McCarron had the other Minnesota goals while Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves.  Wild forward Yakov Trenin, who returned from an upper-body injury suffered in Game 2, had an assist in 12:04 of ice time.  “We’ll take a lot of information out of this game and work to be better again in Game 6,” Hynes said. “That was our objective when the series started. Take one day at a time, one game at a time, extract the information that’s needed. Prepare ourselves for the next game and focus on that.”  Jonas Brodin left the game at 1:44 of the second period after blocking a Mikko Rantanen shot. After the game, Brodin was seen on crutches with his foot in a medical boot.  Hynes didn’t have a specific update on the Minnesota defenseman on Wednesday, but if Brodin can’t play Game 6, it’s expected that either Daemon Hunt or Jeff Petry will draw into the lineup.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Stars #search #calm #facing #Game #elimination #WildApr 28, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) skates with the puck past Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) and scores an empty net goal during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Dallas Stars will look to play with a sense of calm as they face elimination in Game 6 against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in St. Paul.

Dallas has dropped back-to-back games in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals series and trails Minnesota 3-2, following Tuesday’s 4-2 loss in Game 5.

“You have to be able to play in these pressure situations,” said Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. “I don’t think it’s anything grit-related. I think that both teams were competing very hard last night (Tuesday), and you just have to actually have a little more of a sense of calm to be able to make a play under pressure.

“… We have to settle in and make some plays with some fluidity.”

Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson each scored a goal and added an assist while Jake Oettinger made 24 saves for the Stars, the regular-season No. 2 seed in the Central Division.

“We just couldn’t create enough, especially 5-on-5,” Heiskanen said. “That was the biggest issue (in Game 5). Just have to fix that and get better next game. We just have to simplify. I think there are times where we’re trying to do too much. Just simplify. Get guys to the net, get pucks to the net, and get a couple of crazy ones.”

Arttu Hyry left Tuesday’s game at 8:02 of the second period with a lower-body injury. Gulutzan said the Stars forward would travel to Minnesota with the team on Wednesday; however, defenseman Nils Lundkvist, who left Game 4 after suffering a facial cut from a skate, is not available for Game 6.


The Wild head home with an opportunity to win its first Western Conference quarterfinal series since 2015, when it dispatched the St. Louis Blues in six games.

“I think when we play a tight, connected, five-man unit, we’re usually at our best,” said Wild coach John Hynes. “I thought we were responsible, strong attention to detail, got some key saves when we needed them. Another game where we can continue to build and get better. You just focus day to day.”

Kirill Kaprizov scored a goal and added two helpers, while Matt Boldy added a goal and an assist for the Wild, who split Games 3 and 4 on home ice, both in overtime.

Mats Zuccarello and Michael McCarron had the other Minnesota goals while Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves.

Wild forward Yakov Trenin, who returned from an upper-body injury suffered in Game 2, had an assist in 12:04 of ice time.

“We’ll take a lot of information out of this game and work to be better again in Game 6,” Hynes said. “That was our objective when the series started. Take one day at a time, one game at a time, extract the information that’s needed. Prepare ourselves for the next game and focus on that.”

Jonas Brodin left the game at 1:44 of the second period after blocking a Mikko Rantanen shot. After the game, Brodin was seen on crutches with his foot in a medical boot.

Hynes didn’t have a specific update on the Minnesota defenseman on Wednesday, but if Brodin can’t play Game 6, it’s expected that either Daemon Hunt or Jeff Petry will draw into the lineup.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Stars #search #calm #facing #Game #elimination #Wild">Deadspin | Stars in search of calm facing Game 6 elimination vs. Wild  Apr 28, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) skates with the puck past Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) and scores an empty net goal during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images   The Dallas Stars will look to play with a sense of calm as they face elimination in Game 6 against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in St. Paul.  Dallas has dropped back-to-back games in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals series and trails Minnesota 3-2, following Tuesday’s 4-2 loss in Game 5.  “You have to be able to play in these pressure situations,” said Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. “I don’t think it’s anything grit-related. I think that both teams were competing very hard last night (Tuesday), and you just have to actually have a little more of a sense of calm to be able to make a play under pressure.  “… We have to settle in and make some plays with some fluidity.”  Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson each scored a goal and added an assist while Jake Oettinger made 24 saves for the Stars, the regular-season No. 2 seed in the Central Division.  “We just couldn’t create enough, especially 5-on-5,” Heiskanen said. “That was the biggest issue (in Game 5). Just have to fix that and get better next game. We just have to simplify. I think there are times where we’re trying to do too much. Just simplify. Get guys to the net, get pucks to the net, and get a couple of crazy ones.”  Arttu Hyry left Tuesday’s game at 8:02 of the second period with a lower-body injury. Gulutzan said the Stars forward would travel to Minnesota with the team on Wednesday; however, defenseman Nils Lundkvist, who left Game 4 after suffering a facial cut from a skate, is not available for Game 6.  The Wild head home with an opportunity to win its first Western Conference quarterfinal series since 2015, when it dispatched the St. Louis Blues in six games.   “I think when we play a tight, connected, five-man unit, we’re usually at our best,” said Wild coach John Hynes. “I thought we were responsible, strong attention to detail, got some key saves when we needed them. Another game where we can continue to build and get better. You just focus day to day.”  Kirill Kaprizov scored a goal and added two helpers, while Matt Boldy added a goal and an assist for the Wild, who split Games 3 and 4 on home ice, both in overtime.  Mats Zuccarello and Michael McCarron had the other Minnesota goals while Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves.  Wild forward Yakov Trenin, who returned from an upper-body injury suffered in Game 2, had an assist in 12:04 of ice time.  “We’ll take a lot of information out of this game and work to be better again in Game 6,” Hynes said. “That was our objective when the series started. Take one day at a time, one game at a time, extract the information that’s needed. Prepare ourselves for the next game and focus on that.”  Jonas Brodin left the game at 1:44 of the second period after blocking a Mikko Rantanen shot. After the game, Brodin was seen on crutches with his foot in a medical boot.  Hynes didn’t have a specific update on the Minnesota defenseman on Wednesday, but if Brodin can’t play Game 6, it’s expected that either Daemon Hunt or Jeff Petry will draw into the lineup.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Stars #search #calm #facing #Game #elimination #Wild

Deadspin | Astros look for spark in doubleheader vs. Orioles  Apr 28, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Houston Astros infielder Carlos Correa (1) reacts after striking out in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images   After quite a bit of idle time this week, the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles are in store for a busy day of baseball when they meet for Thursday’s doubleheader at Camden Yards.  Wednesday night’s game was postponed because of weather concerns. So that means that each team has played just one game since Sunday afternoon.  That game was won by Baltimore with Tuesday night’s 5-3 decision.  The Astros, who are 3-8 in their last 11 games, would like to see outfielder Brice Matthews build off that game when he produced three hits, including a home run.  “I feel like I could do that each and every night, but baseball, it’s not going to go your way each and every night,” Matthews said.  With an array of injuries impacting the Astros, manager Joe Espada said Matthews could become a spark.  “I keep saying, when he finds barrel to ball, he’s exciting to watch,” Espada said. “He’s a very explosive player. He can change outcomes of the game when he learns to be more consistent making contact.”  The Astros also hope that third baseman Isaac Paredes can get rolling. Even though he went 0-for-4 on Tuesday, he had hits in six of seven games prior to that.  “Sometimes it takes a little bit of time,” Espada said. “He’s starting to heat up, and he knows he can do damage and he’s doing some damage.”  Baltimore has had catcher Adley Rutschman with a hot bat. He has racked up multiple hits in three of five games with 10 runs batted in since returning from the injury list.  “With Adley, it’s just taking his hits,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Staying on the off-speed, driving it the other way. It just shows his adjustability in the box.”   The Orioles will send out right-handers Chris Bassitt (1-2, 6.75 ERA) and Brandon Young (2-0, 2.53) for the starting assignments.  For Young, it will mark his third big-league appearance of the season. He pitched twice last year against Houston with mixed results. He took a perfect game into the eighth and threw eight shutout innings in mid-August. Less than a week later, he was tagged for seven runs in 5 1/3 innings.  The Astros are bound to challenge Baltimore’s pitchers, who had the right mix in the series opener.  “They’re a deep-lineup team and battle tested,” Albernaz said. “It was great to see our (pitchers) step up to the challenge.”  Houston has right-handers Peter Lambert (1-1, 3.27) and Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 6.75) slated to be on the mound.  The Astros have gone 0-4 in McCullers’ first four April starts, though he only had decisions in the last two outings when he lasted five innings in both cases. He has bemoaned poor beginnings to recent games as getting him off track.  Espada said some adjustments could bolster McCullers.  “I think for Lance, it’s being ahead,” Espada said. “Once he’s ahead, he can expand and he can set the tone. But if you’re behind in the count, it can be really hard to execute and get people out.”  McCullers has faced the Orioles eight times, with six starts, in his career. He’s 3-0 with a 3.34 ERA covering 35 innings in those matchups.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Astros #spark #doubleheader #OriolesApr 28, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Houston Astros infielder Carlos Correa (1) reacts after striking out in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

After quite a bit of idle time this week, the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles are in store for a busy day of baseball when they meet for Thursday’s doubleheader at Camden Yards.

Wednesday night’s game was postponed because of weather concerns. So that means that each team has played just one game since Sunday afternoon.

That game was won by Baltimore with Tuesday night’s 5-3 decision.

The Astros, who are 3-8 in their last 11 games, would like to see outfielder Brice Matthews build off that game when he produced three hits, including a home run.

“I feel like I could do that each and every night, but baseball, it’s not going to go your way each and every night,” Matthews said.

With an array of injuries impacting the Astros, manager Joe Espada said Matthews could become a spark.

“I keep saying, when he finds barrel to ball, he’s exciting to watch,” Espada said. “He’s a very explosive player. He can change outcomes of the game when he learns to be more consistent making contact.”

The Astros also hope that third baseman Isaac Paredes can get rolling. Even though he went 0-for-4 on Tuesday, he had hits in six of seven games prior to that.

“Sometimes it takes a little bit of time,” Espada said. “He’s starting to heat up, and he knows he can do damage and he’s doing some damage.”

Baltimore has had catcher Adley Rutschman with a hot bat. He has racked up multiple hits in three of five games with 10 runs batted in since returning from the injury list.


“With Adley, it’s just taking his hits,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Staying on the off-speed, driving it the other way. It just shows his adjustability in the box.”

The Orioles will send out right-handers Chris Bassitt (1-2, 6.75 ERA) and Brandon Young (2-0, 2.53) for the starting assignments.

For Young, it will mark his third big-league appearance of the season. He pitched twice last year against Houston with mixed results. He took a perfect game into the eighth and threw eight shutout innings in mid-August. Less than a week later, he was tagged for seven runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The Astros are bound to challenge Baltimore’s pitchers, who had the right mix in the series opener.

“They’re a deep-lineup team and battle tested,” Albernaz said. “It was great to see our (pitchers) step up to the challenge.”

Houston has right-handers Peter Lambert (1-1, 3.27) and Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 6.75) slated to be on the mound.

The Astros have gone 0-4 in McCullers’ first four April starts, though he only had decisions in the last two outings when he lasted five innings in both cases. He has bemoaned poor beginnings to recent games as getting him off track.

Espada said some adjustments could bolster McCullers.

“I think for Lance, it’s being ahead,” Espada said. “Once he’s ahead, he can expand and he can set the tone. But if you’re behind in the count, it can be really hard to execute and get people out.”

McCullers has faced the Orioles eight times, with six starts, in his career. He’s 3-0 with a 3.34 ERA covering 35 innings in those matchups.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Astros #spark #doubleheader #Orioles">Deadspin | Astros look for spark in doubleheader vs. Orioles  Apr 28, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Houston Astros infielder Carlos Correa (1) reacts after striking out in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images   After quite a bit of idle time this week, the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles are in store for a busy day of baseball when they meet for Thursday’s doubleheader at Camden Yards.  Wednesday night’s game was postponed because of weather concerns. So that means that each team has played just one game since Sunday afternoon.  That game was won by Baltimore with Tuesday night’s 5-3 decision.  The Astros, who are 3-8 in their last 11 games, would like to see outfielder Brice Matthews build off that game when he produced three hits, including a home run.  “I feel like I could do that each and every night, but baseball, it’s not going to go your way each and every night,” Matthews said.  With an array of injuries impacting the Astros, manager Joe Espada said Matthews could become a spark.  “I keep saying, when he finds barrel to ball, he’s exciting to watch,” Espada said. “He’s a very explosive player. He can change outcomes of the game when he learns to be more consistent making contact.”  The Astros also hope that third baseman Isaac Paredes can get rolling. Even though he went 0-for-4 on Tuesday, he had hits in six of seven games prior to that.  “Sometimes it takes a little bit of time,” Espada said. “He’s starting to heat up, and he knows he can do damage and he’s doing some damage.”  Baltimore has had catcher Adley Rutschman with a hot bat. He has racked up multiple hits in three of five games with 10 runs batted in since returning from the injury list.  “With Adley, it’s just taking his hits,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Staying on the off-speed, driving it the other way. It just shows his adjustability in the box.”   The Orioles will send out right-handers Chris Bassitt (1-2, 6.75 ERA) and Brandon Young (2-0, 2.53) for the starting assignments.  For Young, it will mark his third big-league appearance of the season. He pitched twice last year against Houston with mixed results. He took a perfect game into the eighth and threw eight shutout innings in mid-August. Less than a week later, he was tagged for seven runs in 5 1/3 innings.  The Astros are bound to challenge Baltimore’s pitchers, who had the right mix in the series opener.  “They’re a deep-lineup team and battle tested,” Albernaz said. “It was great to see our (pitchers) step up to the challenge.”  Houston has right-handers Peter Lambert (1-1, 3.27) and Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 6.75) slated to be on the mound.  The Astros have gone 0-4 in McCullers’ first four April starts, though he only had decisions in the last two outings when he lasted five innings in both cases. He has bemoaned poor beginnings to recent games as getting him off track.  Espada said some adjustments could bolster McCullers.  “I think for Lance, it’s being ahead,” Espada said. “Once he’s ahead, he can expand and he can set the tone. But if you’re behind in the count, it can be really hard to execute and get people out.”  McCullers has faced the Orioles eight times, with six starts, in his career. He’s 3-0 with a 3.34 ERA covering 35 innings in those matchups.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Astros #spark #doubleheader #Orioles

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