Over the years, we have seen Shaquille O’Neal encourage players to use Icy-Hot and play through injuries. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for Jayson Tatum during game 2 in the first round of the Playoffs. It was in the 4th quarter of game 1 when the 6x All-Star suffered an injury. It became a huge debate if it was a hard foul and whether the opposition player should have received strict punishment. But Charles Barkley doesn’t think, as he cleared the air on the hard foul narrative and questioned the Celtics’ championship future.

Another playoff game, and another Inside the NBA broadcast. Before the game, Jayson Tatum was ruled out of game 2, plus he was not on the court for the pregame shooting. The early reports suggested no fracture but a bone bruise that keeps the star man out. The 6x All-Star led the Celtics in points, assists, and rebounds per game during the regular season. Naturally, the question would if how Joe Mazzulla’s team keeps up?

Shaquille O’Neal was confident that the “others” of the Celtics would do the job, but his co-analyst disagreed. “Well, I don’t know, I don’t believe that next man up stuff. Like I hope he’s all right cuz they not going to win a championship without Jayson Tatum.” A huge statement from Charles Barkley, but Shaq felt it was reactionary since Tatum is only out for one game. “Well, we don’t know that doctor. But I hope he’s all right because he’s a great player. But it’s a serious damn thing man because they can’t win a championship without Jayson Tatum,” said Barkley.

Ernie Johnson then directed the discussion towards whether Kentavious Caldwell-Pope meant to purposefully cause harm to Boston’s star forward. That’s when Chuck saved the Magic guard. “He (Tatum) just fell awkwardly and tried to catch himself, that was not, I wouldn’t say that was (hard foul). Because nobody is out here trying to hurt anybody. We’re all in the same profession; We have to respect each other.”

It was in the 4th quarter when KCP fouled Tatum when he went up for a dunk, causing the wrist injury. But Tatum is missing game 2 for now, and it also ends his streak of playing in all 114 of Boston’s playoff games. The concerns about the championship could stem from the fact that the Celtics were 8-2 during the regular season without Tatum. Both of those losses were to the Magic, but Boston rested all its starters in the final meeting at Orlando on April 9.

Charles Barkley’s statement contradicts Jayson Tatum’s teammate’s claims

The first person to run at Tatum was Al Horford. After the game 1 media conference, the Celtics veteran made sure to air his concerns about the foul. “Yes. Yeah there was something extra. It was about the second or third time they, especially KCP went at him in that way so yeah.” But as Charles Barkley suggested that there was no intention as such. Even the Orlando Magic guard, who is seemingly prosecuted for the hard foul, came clean on the issue.

“Just a foul. It’s playoff basketball, that’s all I got to say on it…I didn’t hear any comments (from Horford), not worried about any comments…a hard foul is a hard foul. I really don’t care what anybody says. I’m still gonna play how I play, how I’m supposed to play,” said Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Maybe during the postseason, it’s just ‘playoff basketball’.

At first, Tatum was “day to day” and then out of the game 2. Whether or not the injury is short-term, it will have its effects. Even if he comes back for game three in Orlando, this injury could linger and hinder his performance. Jaylen Brown entered the playoffs with a knee injury and may not be 100%, while other players like Kristaps Porzingis have their injury concerns.