The Celtics are peaking. Jaylen Brown’s knee isn’t cooperating.

What’s happening with Jaylen Brown?

When the Celtics initially introduced Brown’s knee harm — a bone bruise with posterior impingement — they stated he’d be out at the least two video games in 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. For those who belief Dr. Google, relaxation and restoration is the fundamental 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 stated. “I haven’t actually had points with my knees ever in my profession, so simply looking for an excellent routine to verify I’m ready and able to go each evening. Nevertheless it’s undoubtedly been a problem mentally and stuff like that.”

There’s little doubt that the Celtics will prioritize successful within the playoffs over every thing else. Nonetheless, there may be this bugaboo over Brown’s eligibility for submit common season awards. Gamers need to play in 65 video games to have an opportunity to be elected on to an All-NBA Crew 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 needs, placing him ready. He at all times finds a chance in a state of affairs in each issues,” Joe Mazzulla stated forward of the tip in Memphis.

“We want him to be at his best possible, 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 while you don’t really feel prefer it? He does a terrific job caring for himself, placing himself in place. He additionally does an excellent job working by issues and discovering methods to be impactful. We simply need to proceed to have that stability.”

It’s that phrase “stability” that’s regarding. Regardless of what Brown and the group has stated 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 harm.

“It’s the stability, proper? What provides you the most effective likelihood, the place you’re at proper now — on daily basis is totally different— what provides you the most effective likelihood as a group, what provides you the most effective likelihood 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 will keep that stability, I feel that stuff is tremendous essential. On the finish of the day, he’s a aggressive man. Each day, he does what it takes to himself in place to assist us win, whether or not that’s on the courtroom or follow or what not. It’s important to reward that and he is aware of that stability, so that you simply work collectively on it.”

Brown has careworn 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 workers has accomplished such an excellent job managing the minutes of all the 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.