On Sunday, the Boston Celtics announced that shooting guard Jaylen Brown is doubtful for Monday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans after bruising his lower back in an unnerving fall against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. Following Saturday’s game, Brown would tell reporters that the x-rays came back negative but the bruising could be enough to keep the third-year guard out for precautionary reasons.
Celtics forward Gordon Hayward will return after resting a sore left ankle while point guard Terry Rozier is probable despite dealing with left knee soreness.
There’s been a carousel of injuries to report in Beantown since the beginning of the season and it seems like they haven’t played with a fully healthy team since the third game of the season. However, with a right hip strain ailing Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis, the Celtics will catch a break.
Brown’s absence will effect the team’s defense more than their offense, with the 22-year-old having long shown himself to be one of Boston’s better perimeter defenders. Unfortunately for the Celtics, Pelicans shooting guard E’Twaun Moore is averaging 16.3 points per game while shooting 55.1 percent from the field and 46.6 percent from three-point range this season, so Brown’s absence in this particular game is far from ideal.
Especially in a game where New Orleans’ stud point guard Jrue Holiday has the ability to clamp down on Celtics All-Star Kyrie Irving like few others and has even showing an ability to guard bigger players.
As Hayward returns, the focus for him individually should be continuing to find comfort on the floor and finding ways to adapt to his minimized explosiveness. Hayward is averaging 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season while shooting 40.0 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three-point range and has been demoted to the second unit in the midst of his struggles.
Coming off the bench, Hayward has a chance to be an offensive focal point and find his rhythm but the process will take time to yield results, even if Boston is suddenly impatient.
*All stats gathered from Basketball Reference