It's a dark day in Beantown . . . 

It's the sort if dark day that comes to define a season, a team, and even a city. The worst of it isn't that the Celtics lost Game 4 of the Conference Semifinals to the New York Knicks, 121-113. The worst of it isn't that the Celtics have fallen behind, 1-3, in the series. The worst of it is that Jatson Tatum, the Celtics superstar player, the current and future leader of the franchise, suffered a "lower body injury," possibly an Achilles-tendon tear, late in the game. He'll be out for the rest of the series, which is most likely the rest of the Celtics' season, and in worst-case scenarios, out for a very long time, possibly including part or even most of next season.

The Celtics have a lot of talent on their team, but it would be an understatement to say that Tatum carried this team. His loss will have unfathomable repercussions on the team for seasons to come, and could affect the trajectory of the franchise for years.   

But first, the game. Last night's game in New York was not unlike Games 1 and 2 in Boston - the Celtics looked invincible early and ran up a big lead (14 points) in the third quarter, only to see that lead evaporate as the Knicks went on scoring runs and suddenly the Celtics' ball couldn't find the basket.  Tatum, who went 3-of-5 on three-point shots in the first quarter, went 1-for-6 in the third. The Knicks took the lead and after some thrilling back-and-forth as the teams switched leads in the fourth, New York broke away and left the Celtics behind. When Tatum suffered his non-contact injury, lunging for a loose ball with about three minutes left, the game was already effectively lost for the Celtics.

Tatum is undergoing an MRI today, possible even as I write this, but it's hard to feel optimistic about the prognosis. After he went down, he was in obvious, intense pain, and after he was helped off the floor, unable to put any weight on the injured foot, he was carried away to the locker room in a wheelchair.

The 2024-2025 Boston Celtics were a great team, the defending NBA champions, and finished the regular season with a terrific 61-21 record. It's apparent now that they won't be repeat champions and if Tatum is going to be out for a long time, there will be a lot of offseason trades and personnel changes that will fundamentally alter the team. There will be a "before-injury" Celtics and an "after-injury" Celtics. Change is inevitable (impermanence is swift) but it didn't have to be so painful and dramatic.

Our best and most sincere wishes go out to Jayson for a swift and healthy recovery. In any event, we also offer a sincere "thank you" for eight seasons of thrilling basketball and for an NBA championship. We hope that you can carry us to many more, but whatever the outcome of the MRI, your healing, and whatever your future, we wish you success and the unconditional best.