All the things appears to be like nice for the Boston Celtics on paper. They’re the second seed within the Jap Convention and betting favorite to return to the NBA Finals (h/t ESPN Wager).
However there’s a rising concern the Celtics’ marketing campaign to be the primary repeat NBA champions for the reason that Golden State Warriors in 2018 may very well be in jeopardy due to a nagging damage to one in every of Boston’s stars.
Guard Jaylen Brown, final yr’s Jap Convention Finals and Finals MVP, struggled with a knee damage through the again half of the season. He has missed 12 of Boston’s previous 29 video games and just lately had painkilling injections in his proper knee, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Within the first spherical, the Celtics (61-21) will open at residence Sunday (April 20) towards the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic (41-41).
Brown hasn’t had the best season of his profession, however he’s nonetheless one of many crew’s most essential gamers. He averaged 22.2 factors this season (his lowest for the reason that 2019-20 season) and shot 46.3% from the ground and 32.4% from three, both career-low figures. Though his accuracy has declined, he averaged a career-high 4.5 assists and displayed improved playmaking talents for the second-best offense within the league by offensive rating.
Boston apparently is cautiously optimistic about Brown’s standing for the playoffs, however Celtics insiders have expressed concern concerning the All-Star wing.
“Brown’s damage would possibly restrict him within the postseason.” wrote Celtics insider Jay King for The Athletic. “Though the Celtics have sounded optimistic about his form at practices, he remains their biggest question mark with Game 1 days away.”
Brown has reportedly sought out advice from his teammate, Kristaps Porzingis, who has often struggled with knee injuries during his career.
“We definitely talked about it. Just because of my history with some of the knee stuff that bothered me in the past. So we definitely talked, I gave him my point of view, what I thought could help him and he did the things necessary to be as healthy and as feeling good as possible for this run that we’re about to have, and he looks good. He’s always saying that he feels good, but he actually looks good and that’s the most important.” Porzingis told Celtics reporter Bobby Manning of CLNS.
The Celtics are 15-4 without Brown in the lineup this season, but they face a strong defensive team in the Magic, who could stifle Boston’s high-volume offense. The C’s need Brown’s size (6-foot-6) and improved playmaking, especially against potential future playoff opponents such as the third-seeded New York Knicks (51-31) and No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18).
If Brown is OK, the Celtics could run through the East and easily defend their title. If he’s not, a title defense could fizzle out in an early playoff exit.
