The Boston Celtics are set to begin their preseason games against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the night of Thursday to Friday. A key focus for the team is ensuring that Jayson Tatum, the team's star forward, remains available throughout the upcoming season. Tatum suffered a severe injury to his Achilles tendon 17 months ago but has since returned to play last spring. With a full summer to prepare, he is entering this new season with more confidence and composure. For coach Joe Mazzulla, the concern is not about limiting Tatum's playing time but rather about creating the right conditions to keep him on the court for as long as possible. The Celtics have strengthened their support system around Tatum's health, aiming to help him reach his peak performance. However, Mazzulla emphasized that the goal is not to set a fixed number of games for him to play. Tatum has participated in all training sessions since the start of the training camp. Still, the team is monitoring how his body responds to the demands of the season. With the departure of Jaylen Brown, Tatum will have even more responsibilities on the court. Joe Mazzulla said, "Everything starts with doing everything possible to be present on the court. We trust him, we trust our sports science specialists team. That's why we have ten of them. We trust his personal trainer." He added, "We want to have the assurance of being able to count on him every night." However, he also cautioned against expecting every player to play all 82 games, acknowledging that it is not realistic for every player to be at full capacity throughout the season. This approach aligns with the culture Mazzulla has established since becoming the Celtics coach. He encourages his players to fight hard even when they are not at full strength. "Even if they feel they cannot achieve it, they will still try," he said. For the Celtics, Tatum's availability is a crucial indicator of the team's success. Without him, it seems unlikely that the team will be in a strong position to compete for the top spots in the Eastern Conference.