What’s happening with Jaylen Brown?
When the Celtics initially introduced Brown’s knee damage — a bone bruise with posterior impingement — they mentioned he’d be out at the very least two video games at the beginning of the street journey. And even earlier than the group headed west, he had already missed a pair of video games earlier than the All-Star break and sat out a few back-to-backs. If you happen to belief Dr. Google, relaxation and restoration is the essential course of remedy for a bone bruise. Then why play in any respect? Why not sit out till he’s 100%?
After lacking three straight video games, he by no means eclipsed half-hour within the following three in Sacramento, Phoenix, and San Antonio. After scoring 24 factors in a blowout win over the Suns, Brown wasn’t essentially optimistic about his well being, however appeared assured that he and the group would determine it out earlier than the playoffs.
“It’s new for me,” he mentioned. “I haven’t actually had points with my knees ever in my profession, so simply looking for a superb routine to verify I’m ready and able to go each night time. Nevertheless it’s undoubtedly been a problem mentally and stuff like that.”
There’s little question that the Celtics will prioritize successful within the playoffs over every thing else. Nevertheless, there’s this bugaboo over Brown’s eligibility for submit common season awards. Gamers must play in 65 video games to have an opportunity to be elected on to an All-NBA Staff or elevate the MVP. For JB, he can solely miss yet one more of the ultimate seven contests.
“To me, it’s extra about supporting him with no matter he desires, placing him ready. He at all times finds a possibility in a scenario in each issues,” Joe Mazzulla mentioned forward of the tip in Memphis.
“We’d like him to be at his very best, however on the similar time, god keen, an extended playoff run. You’re not at all times going to really feel at your finest, however are you able to be at your finest even once you don’t really feel prefer it? He does an amazing job taking good care of himself, placing himself in place. He additionally does a superb job working by way of issues and discovering methods to be impactful. We simply must proceed to have that stability.”
It’s that phrase “stability” that’s regarding. Regardless of what Brown and the group has mentioned about prioritizing successful, these common season Ws received’t imply something if the Finals MVP is hobbled in Could and June.
Right here’s CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell on the damage.
“It’s the stability, proper? What provides you the most effective probability, the place you’re at proper now — on daily basis is completely different— what provides you the most effective probability as a group, what provides you the most effective probability as a person to carry out and do the issues that we want you to do this you’re nice at to assist us win,” Mazzulla continued. “So long as we are able to preserve that stability, I believe that stuff is tremendous essential. On the finish of the day, he’s a aggressive man. Day-after-day, he does what it takes to himself in place to assist us win, whether or not that’s on the courtroom or apply or what not. You need to reward that and he is aware of that stability, so that you simply work collectively on it.”
Brown has harassed the significance of taking part in and staying in rhythm regardless of not being fully wholesome. Nobody is aware of his physique higher than JB and this medical employees has accomplished such a superb job managing the minutes of the whole roster all 12 months. After successful 14 of 15 video games together with sweeping this six-game street journey, the Celtics are peaking on the proper time. Let’s hope that Brown is on the upward trajectory, too.
