Last night, adding yet another blemish to an already grueling series between Boston and New York, the Celtics suffered a devastating blow when their star forward, Jayson Tatum, was injured.
Tatum suffered a non-contact injury during Game 4 on Monday night, and the general consensus feared the worst—an Achilles tear for one of the league’s premier talents. Earlier this afternoon, those fears were confirmed when it was announced that Tatum had undergone emergency surgery to repair his right Achilles tendon.
With that, another star in the East has fallen to a torn Achilles, joining Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks, who suffered the same injury during his first-round series against the Indiana Pacers. Of course, hearing about any NBA star’s injury—especially one as serious as this—is always a depressing development.
However, in the landscape of NBA competition, it’s important to understand and analyze the potential impact these types of injuries can have on the trajectories of other teams. Looking at the Toronto Raptors, they should be paying close attention to these tough losses in the Eastern Conference, which have essentially opened the door for them to become playoff contenders next season.
Jayson Tatum's injury significantly boosted the Raptors' playoff chances
I already mentioned this developing storyline in an earlier piece, but now, with Tatum’s injury, Toronto’s path back to postseason relevance and a chance to be a top contender has become virtually foolproof.
I'm not saying Boston will suddenly become a lottery team minus Tatum, but with their rising luxury tax and aging roster, can a Jaylen Brown-led Celtics truly contend for a title? Similarly, there's a strong possibility that Milwaukee could lose Giannis Antetokounmpo, whom Shams Charania already mentioned is likely to be the NBA’s hottest trade target this summer.
With two powerhouses dropping down the ranks, Toronto’s main competition out East now appears to be the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. There’s also an argument to be made that Philadelphia, especially with the third pick in hand, could re-enter the conversation, but that depends on Joel Embiid’s recovery and how the Paul George situation unfolds.
Moreover, given the Cavs own struggles with injuries and their underwhelming performance despite a dominant regular season, I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to reevaluate their situation and consider making some changes.
This Raptors squad is strong, at least on paper. We still don't know how Brandon Ingram will gel with the other guys, but if the former All-Star has truly returned to form and fully recovered from his ankle injury, it's safe to assume he could become Toronto's new offensive focal point.
Surrounded by Scottie Barnes and a talented group of young players eager to compete, the pieces are in place for a playoff-caliber roster—though some questions remain, such as adding veterans like the Pistons and deciding how to utilize their ninth pick in the upcoming offseason.
But the writing is on the wall for some of Toronto's most notable competitors; the Celtics and Bucks are likely to suffer due to their catastrophic injuries, giving the Raptors a chance to rise like a phoenix in the midst of this situation. An even bolder perspective on this ordeal is to suggest that the Raptors should go all-in to maximize their championship window. If a championship-caliber star becomes available, now is the time for them to seize the opportunity and make their move.
There is a gaping hole in the NBA's Eastern Conference, and it's calling the Raptors to step up and fill that void.