Celtics’ Jayson Tatum may be getting close, but he’s not saying so

The eye test says Jayson Tatum is getting close. Tatum himself keeps pumping the brakes.

Tatum traveled with the Celtics on their West Coast swing and was on the floor for practice Saturday in Santa Monica. He confirmed he went through a full five-on-five workout earlier in the week, the second time he’s done that during his rehab from a torn Achilles.

That’s usually the last box to check. Tatum just isn’t ready to acknowledge it yet.

“Nothing is set in stone,” Tatum said. “Just more so work out, see how you recover the next day, then make a plan from there.”

Boston has been careful throughout the process, and Tatum made it clear that nothing has changed. The focus remains on how his body responds, not the calendar.

“We’re just going with the plan,” he said.

The timing matters because the Celtics are already thriving. At 36-19, they sit near the top of the East and have looked every bit like a team that can make another Finals run even without their best player. With Tatum, the conversation shifts quickly from contender to possibly, favorite.