If you were looking for a quiet All-Star break around the Boston Celtics (35-19), that probably lasted all of five minutes.

Because even without games on the schedule, the biggest storyline hanging over the franchise continues to be the plotting and increasingly intriguing march toward a potential return for Jayson Tatum.

And now, thanks to a subtle but noticeable tweak from the league office, the speculation machine is officially humming.

Let’s start with what we actually know.

Tatum, who has been working his way back from a torn Achilles suffered in last year’s playoffs, has steadily checked off milestones in his rehab. The most notable came earlier this week when he got live reps during a practice with the Maine Celtics - a step he himself described as simply “the next step” in the process, while making it clear he still isn’t committing to a firm return timeline.

Still, anyone who has listened to Tatum over the past few weeks can sense the optimism.

He’s talked about feeling better, enjoying being around the team, and taking things one progression at a time. The message has been consistent: nothing is guaranteed, but the arrow is pointing up. Add in what his teammates have said about how he looked during the practice with Maine, and you can understand why fans are getting excited about the potential return.

Which brings us to the latest development.

The NBA announced that Boston’s home matchup against the 76ers (30-24) on March 1 has been moved from a 6:00 p.m. ET tip to 8:00 p.m., and will now be broadcast nationally on NBC.

On the surface, schedule changes happen all the time. But they rarely happen without a reason. And when you connect the dots, it’s hard not to at least wonder if the league is anticipating something worth showcasing.

Could it simply be two marquee Eastern Conference teams? Sure.

But given the timing, and given how closely the league monitors star power when it comes to national windows, it’s impossible not to think about what a Tatum return would mean for a primetime audience.

From a basketball standpoint, the ripple effects would be massive.

Boston has been one of the East’s best teams even without its franchise cornerstone, thanks to the steady play of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and a deeper roster bolstered by the addition of Nikola Vucevic. But plugging Tatum back into that mix, even if it takes time to ramp up, would immediately shift the conversation from contender to potential favorite.

And Tatum himself has acknowledged the dynamic, noting recently how well the group has played while he’s been sidelined and how any return would simply be about fitting back into a team that’s already rolling.

For now, nothing is official.

There’s been no announcement, no declaration, no definitive date circled in ink.

But when the league quietly moves a game into primetime during the exact window many have long suspected as a realistic target, it’s fair to say the anticipation level just ticked up a notch.

So go ahead and keep March 1 in the back of your mind.

Because whether it ends up being the night or just another step along the way, the countdown to seeing Tatum back on an NBA floor suddenly feels a whole lot more real.

Remember to join our CELTICS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Celtics fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!

Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.