Rumbles that Tatum might be able to play again much sooner than a calendar year give or take a month have begun to percolate.

Facing elimination and with Jayson Tatum sidelined, the Celtics kept their season alive in Game 5 against the Knicks.

But that was the least of the Celtics' concerns as All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum went down with a non-contact ankle injury, forcing him to leave. A day later, he was diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles, ending his playoffs and putting next season in jeopardy.