If I needed to energy rank the worst occasions of the season to be injured, “proper earlier than the playoffs begin” could be second behind “throughout the playoffs.” Sadly, we’ve reached the previous, and Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown remains to be battling the lingering knee damage that has plagued him for a big a part of this season.
There’s no getting round it: JB hasn’t seemed his sharpest over the past month or so. He’s averaging 18.6 factors per sport, about 4 lower than his season common of twenty-two.4, and has NOT shot the ball effectively. He’s transformed on simply 43.7% of his makes an attempt from the sphere and 28.6% of his threes since March 1.
Brown’s ailment was a significant theme all through his postgame press convention Wednesday after coming back from a one-game absence to tackle the Miami Warmth.
Why?
Nicely, many would say that one sport could not have been an extended sufficient break, contemplating that Boston is basically locked into the 2 seed within the East and has subsequent to nothing left to play for.
Mockingly, Brown does have an incentive to proceed enjoying. If he performs in 5 of the final six video games for the Cs, he’ll safe eligibility for All-NBA and All-Protection choices.
When requested in regards to the 65-game threshold influencing his determination to maintain enjoying via ache, he responded with a easy “no.”
If award recognition isn’t an element, then why proceed battling via ache in matchups that gained’t imply something in two weeks?
I’m not a health care provider. I’m only a man with a keyboard. Nevertheless, I’m inclined to agree with my man Cam Tabatabaie right here.
I’ve by no means heard of anybody enjoying via knee ache till it’s all of the sudden feeling higher….
Maybe it’s a difficulty that wants fixing within the offseason, and relaxation can’t totally remedy the difficulty, however absolutely avoiding any further put on and tear isn’t a foul factor
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) April 3, 2025
The very last thing anybody desires to see is Jaylen having to overlook out on the staff’s most necessary video games of the season this spring.
Sitting out simply looks like the most secure play right here.
Sadly, this simply could be the new (short-term) regular for Brown. No matter he’s coping with may not be capable to heal within the brief interval between now and Sport 1 of the playoffs.
The easiest way ahead may very well be simply getting used to battling via the ailment, which is what it sounds just like the plan is.
“I used to be in some ache right now, however simply pushing via it,” he defined. “Looking for methods to nonetheless be aggressive and add worth to the staff. However simply one thing I’ve set to work via and handle.”
JB added that he’s been working with medical doctors and specialists to formulate the very best plan for his knee.
The aforementioned stats from the month of March aren’t enjoyable to consider. Jaylen hasn’t been capable of constantly play on the identical degree as he did final 12 months, when he gained Jap Convention Finals and NBA Finals MVP en path to Banner 18.
Boston relied on the large outings that they bought from No. 7. They had been capable of rely on him each time they wanted an enormous bucket, like in Sport 1 of the Convention Finals when he compelled additional time with a clutch three, or in Sport 3 of the Finals when he sealed a win for the Cs.
Now, I don’t need to sound like I’m saying he gained’t be capable to be an element this spring. I’m penning this after what would possibly’ve been his greatest sport over the previous month. Brown was legitimately good in opposition to the Warmth on Wednesday. He scored an environment friendly 20 factors, grabbed 9 boards, and even dished 4 assists. Plus, JB was the one on the ground main Boston again from the useless within the second half.
He and the boys weren’t fairly capable of resurrect the night, however they positive made it fascinating.
Jaylen did his job, that’s for positive.
There additionally could also be one thing to the “regulate to the ache” technique we’ve been seeing. Brown has performed in 4 of the Celtics’ final 5 video games and has been higher geared up to handle enterprise.
His total scoring remains to be decrease than his season common, at 17.8 factors per sport, however the effectivity is actually encouraging. JB has made essentially the most of his 13 shot makes an attempt per outing with 51.9/36.4 taking pictures splits.
With the quantity of expertise on this roster, Joe Mazzulla and the Cs ought to be capable to get away with asking much less of their star wing within the playoffs, so long as he retains being prepared when his quantity known as.
Over these closing six video games, Brown’s continued effectivity is one thing to observe. Possibly he’s getting extra snug with the ache, in any case.
