No Dunks – The Drop | What Can The Celtics Expect From Tatum's Return?
Date: March 6, 2026
Hosts: J. Skeets, Tas Melas, Trey Kirby, JD
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the highly anticipated return of Jayson Tatum to the Boston Celtics lineup after missing nearly an entire season due to a torn Achilles. The crew analyzes what his comeback means for Boston’s on-court dynamics, the adjustment for both Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and how the Celtics fit into the current power structure of the Eastern Conference. The guys also recap a packed NBA night, discuss Trad Young’s Wizards debut, Wemby’s dominance, LeBron’s new field goal record, and more—with plenty of banter, trivia, and, infamously, a live smelling salts test.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Smelling Salts—A Live Podcast First
(01:41; 02:17; 04:38; 06:00)
- Tass pays off a bet by trying smelling salts live.
- Skeets: "First time ever. Apparently, you have to put a little bit of water in to activate it. The more water you put in, the stronger it gets." (02:57)
- Led to much laughter, glassy eyes, nose tingling, and multiple on-mic sniffs throughout the show.
- Trey on the effect: “That is a jolt.” (61:19)
2. Jayson Tatum's Anticipated Return: What to Expect?
Main Segment: 07:09–17:10
Tatum's Recovery and Timeline
- Tatum returns about 9–10 months after tearing his Achilles (one of the quickest turnarounds for that injury).
- Comparison to other Achilles recoveries: “Haverstro’s list—outlier is Kevin Durant, the only guy really to come back at full strength. Most guys take over a year. Dejounte Murray was out 13 months.” – Tass (08:00)
Expected Role & Rotations
- Minutes will likely be managed—early stints in the 20–25 range, not back-to-backs.
- "You start him right from the get go, just get him going because they've been waiting for this for a month." – Skeets (10:25)
- Tatum’s presence to help relieve pressure from Jaylen Brown, Peyton Pritchard, and Derrick White.
How Tatum Fits with the “New” Celtics
- Jaylen Brown’s usage rate has soared in Tatum’s absence (2nd in league, behind only Luka).
- "When it was Tatum's team...they shot a lot of threes, hunted mismatches, but that isolation frequency, they've gone away from it with Tatum out." – Trey (12:13)
- Celtics’ style shifted to more pick-and-roll, less ISO.
- “Celtics are also 29th in assists, so basically everyone is an ISO guy.” – Tass (13:34)
- Real challenge: reintegrating Tatum without disrupting the chemistry, especially given Brown’s newfound alpha role.
Locker Room & Chemistry
- “It’s going to be on Tatum to fit in with the way the Celtics have been playing, and it’s going to be on the Celtics to be smart with the way they use him out there.” – Trey (09:59)
- Brown has publicly embraced being Boston’s No. 1 option; Tatum must find his fit after a long absence.
- FanDuel (odds talk): Boston favored in East with Tatum’s return, but "we’ll see how he looks" (15:22).
Notable Quotes
- “If Tatum comes back and has an impact, you might call them the Eastern Conference favorites.” – Tass (15:22)
- “Is he their best player? Does it matter with their chemistry over 9 years? TBD.” – Skeets (15:38)
3. Other NBA Headlines & Noteworthy Performances
Trae Young’s Wizards Debut & Ace Bailey’s Breakout
18:13–24:06
- “He looked great… He was born to wear a golden black Wizards jersey.” – Tass (18:21)
- Trey Young instantly upgrades the team’s offense; “Trey to Trey (Johnson)… all day.”
- Ace Bailey (Jazz) drops 32, including a career-high 7 threes. “If you want to score a lot of points, you play the Wizards.” – Skeets (21:31)
- Juju Reese (Wizards rookie) becomes the first since Shaq/Duncan with a 20-rebound game in his first five career games.
Wembanyama’s Dominant Night Spurs vs Pistons
26:51–32:39
- Wemby: 38 points, 16 rebounds, 5 blocks, no turnovers (“Wemby’s muscles—he’s got muscles.” –Trey, 64:08)
- Spurs defense neutralizes Cade Cunningham, Pistons’ role players falter.
- “If the Spurs get this version of De’Aaron Fox, they’re an elite team already…” – Trey (30:17)
- Spurs now 9–4 vs other 52+ win pace teams, fueling championship talk.
LeBron Sets Career Field Goal Record
32:53–39:03
- “Nobody ever says field goals. It’s always weird.” – Skeets (33:22)
- Mixed opinions on the significance of made FGs vs games played/scoring.
- Stan Van Gundy’s praise: “Passing is the best part of LeBron’s game.” – Tass (38:33)
- LeBron injury scare, Lakers "fake comeback" vs Nuggets.
Rapid Fire Recaps
- Bulls upset Suns, Warriors edge Rockets in OT, Magic beat Mavs with clutch Suggs-to-Carter alley-oop.
- Anthony Edwards yam on RJ Barrett: “That’s Michael Jordan. When he dunks like that…” – Trey (47:56)
- Rookie Cooper Flagg returns for the Mavs.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “It feels like I just was in a pool for a second. My nose got clogged.” – Skeets (04:55)
- “He brings an energy to an arena that desperately needs it… at least there was some life [with Trae in DC].” – Trey (20:17)
- “Every game, players are shocked that Victor [Wemby] is blocking these shots…” – Tass (29:06)
- “LeBron did make more history… now he’s got the made field goals too.” – Trey (33:10)
- “Stick with it, maybe.” (re Lakers’ defensive switches) – Trey (35:52)
- “A compliment you always like to hear?” – Tass (70:13)
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------|------------| | Smelling Salts Segment | 02:14–07:08| | Jayson Tatum/Celtics Deep Dive | 07:09–17:10| | Trae Young & Ace Bailey Recaps | 18:13–24:06| | Wemby Dominates Pistons | 26:51–32:39| | LeBron's Field Goal Record | 32:53–39:03| | Bulls, Warriors, Magic Recaps | 41:41–47:33| | Anthony Edwards Dunk | 47:41–48:13| | Rapid Fire / Misc. Banter | 69:38–88:36|
Tone & Style
As always, the No Dunks crew balances deep NBA analysis with plenty of inside jokes, light ribbing, and pop-culture tangents. The episode featured real camaraderie and plenty of laughs—especially thanks to the live smelling salts experiment and repeated on-air whiffs.
Summary/Takeaway for Non-Listeners
This episode is a must for Celtics fans eager to know what Tatum’s return will look like and how it might shake up the playoff landscape. The hosts give a realistic take on the challenges both he and the team will face, referencing comparable Achilles injuries, modern roster changes, and usage trends. For general NBA fans, there are sharp insights and fun moments: from Trae Young’s fresh Wizards start to Wembanyama’s ascent and unusual NBA trivia. If you love basketball talk that swings between sharp analysis and playful banter, with a little confusion-of-the-senses thrown in, this Drop is a perfect pick.
Memorable Closer:
“It was a jolt. It was an absolute jolt. I could see why people do it, but you shouldn’t. Okay, don’t do this. This is stupid, what we just did.” – Trey Kirby, on smelling salts (93:06)
For more, subscribe and catch their Monday show with a full recap of Tatum’s ongoing return!