It’s very rare for Madison Square Garden to be silent for the sake of the other team. But when Jayson Tatum suffered a ruptured Achilles, it flushed out the energy from the MSG crowd. Not only was he putting up one of his best career performances, but within the community, there’s a lot of respect for Tatum. Former Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson was at the game, commentating on the action. Even he lost his enthusiasm once he saw Tatum reeling in pain.

“The entire basketball community, whether or not you’re a Celtics fan, you could be a Laker fan. Lakers fans were sick for Jayson Tatum. And the air in the building just went out… It was like this guy was on pace to have a 50-point game in Madison Square Garden, right, in the playoffs. Like, that’s the special player that Jayson Tatum is. That part was hard. Like, even for me, my energy was off for the next like probably 24 hours,” Jefferson revealed.

Such career-threatening injuries have happened in the past. But in Tatum’s case, Madison Square Garden and even the Knicks synchronized their applause. Although a rival, nobody wanted to see Jayson Tatum suffer a low moment. That’s because of his humility. Jefferson doesn’t know the Celtics ace personally. Still, he had a story to share that touched his heart.

Before every game, he and Doris Burke would select the player with the best shoes. Jefferson’s kids at the time were huge fans of Tatum’s signature line with Jordan. And while discussing this with Burke, somehow, Jayson Tatum heard about it. What he did next was truly heartwarming.

“Like my boys are rocking the JT’s that they really like them.” I get a text from his agent just like, “Hey, JT heard that your kids really like his shoes. Can he send you a pair?” And I’m just like, “Yeah, 100%.” I tell my kids, “My kids are fans forever.” That’s the type of human being that JT is and I don’t know him like that, right? I don’t know him like that, but just that gesture, that’s what I’m saying. The basketball community is sick for Jayson Tatum. That’s how much everybody respects him,” Jefferson shared on Road Trippin’.

Having suffered a major injury in his prime, the basketball community is behind Tatum to make a healthy return in due time. But until then, there are bigger things for his team, the Boston Celtics.

How do the Celtics go forward from here?

Madison Square Garden going mute was a surprise as it is. But what was expected was the Celtics’ dreading reaction to Jayson Tatum going down. According to Tim Bontemps, their locker room was pin-drop quiet after the Game 4 loss. It was as if each of them knew what it meant. Last season started the clock on the Celtics’ championship window. The Shamrocks were the team to beat. However, with Tatum’s injury, the future trajectory has significantly changed.

The Celtics kept their season alive with a commanding victory in Game 5 even without Tatum. The team is still capable of inflicting damage. But before the next season begins, the Celtics are going to make some serious cost-cutting moves to fall under the second apron. And not having Tatum available for the entire season, Channing Frye made a bold claim.

“Is this the end of the Celtics? Like, they’re in the second apron. They got new owners. Jason Tatum is going to take a year to get back… Now Jrue Holiday’s getting older. Porzingis is getting older. Al Horford’s getting older. You’re in a second apron. What happens to that team by the time that Jason Tatum comes back,” he wondered.

For the past four seasons, the Celtics have been a powerhouse. They have been to the NBA Finals twice, cracking the code last season. However, from next year it won’t just be a new roster. They will be without their leading scorer and an All-NBA forward. That not only could impact their standing in the East, but to Frye, the worst might come up for the Celtics.

“So for me, um, that is what I was kind of sad about. I was like, damn, is this the end of Boston? Because who’s next? No, we can’t say a team has been that dominant over the last if you just look at like as a group, they’ve been dominant,” said the former Cavaliers Sixth Man.

From hoping Jayson Tatum can return to his peak to having a competitive roster, everything is oblivious for the Celtics. They may not be as fierce as their last few campaigns. But fighting is ingrained within their culture. If not titles, the Celtics are a team that has historically found a way to stay in the hunt.

They still have a fascinating core that can keep them in the conversation. The front office though, needs to make sure when Tatum does return, they have an able roster that can once again challenge for the title.