In the high-stakes world of NBA playoff basketball, every minute counts—and sometimes, those minutes can come back to haunt you. That's the question looming over the Boston Celtics after star forward Jayson Tatum was forced to sit out Game 7 of their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, a 106-93 loss that ended Boston's season far earlier than expected.

The trouble began in Game 6, where Tatum logged his second-highest minute total of the season. The six-time All-Star, who is still recovering from a ruptured right Achilles suffered less than a year ago, couldn't finish that 113-97 defeat. The reason? Tightness in his left knee. That discomfort persisted, ultimately sidelining the Celtics' franchise cornerstone for the decisive Game 7.

Now, with an early offseason underway, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens is left to ponder a tough question: Did Tatum's increased workload in the playoffs—averaging 36.3 minutes per game over six outings, including two games with over 40 minutes—contribute to the knee stiffness that kept him off the court?

"Hard to tell, but you can't cross it off," Stevens said during his exit interview. "So we have to look at that." He also praised the medical staff for their efforts, noting, "I feel really comfortable that they worked their butts off to try to get everybody on the court."

For context, Tatum only returned from his Achilles injury on March 6 and played in just 16 regular-season games. The Celtics had carefully managed his minutes, but the postseason pressure forced a ramp-up that may have backfired. Tatum himself expressed confidence that he would have been ready for a second-round series, saying, "I know for a fact I would've been able to play if we made it to the second round."

As the Celtics head into the summer, Stevens and his staff will have plenty of time to analyze what went wrong—and how to ensure their star player is at full strength when it matters most. For now, the lesson is clear: In the NBA, managing minutes isn't just about the regular season; it's about surviving the playoffs.