Analysis: Jayson Tatum downgraded to doubtful for Heat matchup

Every single matchup between teams bunched up in the 2-6 race in the Eastern Conference is going to carry a little more importance in the second half of the season for the Celtics. Those games effectively count as double in the standings when tiebreakers are involved and the C's have one looming on Tuesday night as they wrap up their three-game road trip in South Beach against the Heat.

We already know Enes Kanter will miss his third straight game with a sore hip as he remains back in Boston but additional reinforcements were expected as Brad Stevens spoke positively about the progress that Jayson Tatum had been making while recovering from his strained groin in the past week.

After being listed as questionable for the last two games, however, that progress has appeared to stall a little bit as the team listed Tatum as doubtful to play against the Heat on Tuesday as of Monday afternoon. The Celtics are just 1-2 in games without the durable Tatum this season including a pair of ugly double-digit losses to sub .500 teams in New Orleans and Detroit.

BSJ Analysis

The long view is going to be essential with Tatum here always with any kind of injury that's prone to re-injury like a groin. The calculus suddenly gets much tougher for the C's to win on Tuesday night without him though against a Heat team 1/2 game ahead of Boston in the standings. To make matters worse, one of the brightest spots on Boston's bench of late in Javonte Green has also been ruled questionable with knee soreness for the matchup.

Given the struggles of Brad Wanamaker of late, it would be a surprise if Romeo Langford isn't recalled from Maine if there is a question against Green's availability against a perimeter-oriented team like Miami. The Heat are dealing with some injury woes of their own (Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Kendrick Nunn are all questionable for Monday's game against the Magic) so both teams could be playing significantly shorthanded in this matchup. Boston's wing depth gets very shallow in a hurry without Tatum and Green though so this could be a good final test for the front office to see how guys like Brad Wanamaker, Semi Ojeleye and the rookies fare against tough competition ahead of the trade deadline next Thursday.

With the lowly Warriors coming to town on Thursday, the Celtics will probably be best off staying extremely cautious with Tatum if there is any question about his recovery this week. A primetime tilt is looming against the Sixers back at the Garden on Saturday night so that is the game that the C's will need Tatum for assuming he can't go on Tuesday.

In the meantime, the starting five is going to have to be much sharper than they were in New Orleans to take down a Miami squad that is 20-2 at home this season. The Celtics will have the benefit of Miami coming off a game Monday night against the Magic but there will be a renewed sense of focus that was not present on Sunday. The C's already won this year against the Heat without Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart in the lineup but they have failed to pull off a signature win all year long on the road against a top-tier opponent. Tuesday night will provide a valuable test on that front.