Despite a bone bruise in his right knee, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is prepared to play without any minutes restriction in the first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, starting on Sunday afternoon.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla informed reporters on Saturday that Brown is looking “good” and fully participated in practice. Mazzulla highlighted Brown`s excellent week of preparation, both physically and mentally, emphasizing his readiness for the playoffs.
Brown has been managing his knee issue since February and recently underwent multiple injections to alleviate pain and aid healing, according to reports. He missed the Celtics` final three regular-season games and has played less than 30 minutes in a game since March 12.
The Celtics finished the regular season strong with a 19-3 record, becoming the first defending champions since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors to achieve 60 wins, securing the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. As they enter the playoffs, Brown`s health is their primary concern.
While Brown, last year`s Finals MVP, had a less impactful regular season compared to his usual standards, the Celtics need him to perform at his peak playoff level to contend for another championship. His scoring average was slightly down, and his three-point shooting percentage was a career low. He played in 63 games due to his knee issue. While the Celtics compensated during the regular season, Brown’s high-level performance is crucial for a potential championship repeat.
Brown acknowledged that his knee might not be at 100% throughout the playoff run. He stated his focus is on the Orlando series and avoided discussing his knee further.
Echoing earlier sentiments, Brown expressed in early April that he would give his team everything he has, hoping for improvement in his knee condition over the next couple of weeks. He has demonstrated his ability to perform despite the injury, including a 31-point game in April. The question remains whether he can consistently perform at the required level throughout the playoffs, especially as the intensity increases.
For now, Brown and the Celtics are concentrating on taking each game as it comes, starting with Game 1 against Orlando. Brown emphasized their focus is solely on Sunday`s game, not future games or long-term goals.
Jasper Hawthorne