BOSTON — As the Celtics pick up wins and march closer to the NBA Playoffs, health is the No. 1 factor at this point in the season. Yes, it’s important for the C’s to finish strong, but they want to ensure they’re at their best come the most important and stressful part of the year.
So that puts Jaylen Brown’s recent knee issues more in the spotlight. The Celtics only have five more games left in the regular season with the playoffs starting in a little over two weeks. After the Celtics beat the Suns, Brown made a blunt statement when it comes to his knee.
“As we continue to move forward, I’m hoping to feel better and better,” Brown said. “But there’s no guarantee that rest or anything like that is going to make this thing better, so kind of figuring it out and going through it and getting ready for the playoffs.”
Brown has dealt with the bone bruise in his right knee for the past few weeks. He’s been effective when he is on the court, including in Friday’s win as he poured in 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting, including 8-of-9 on free throws. But it’s also clear Brown isn’t at his best as he looked more tentative at times.
That’s where Brown said he needs to be better at the mental part of the game. Instead of exploding and using his athleticism, he’s thinking the game more and affecting it in other ways. That’s likely better for him long-term, beyond this knee injury and even just next season, as he rounds out his overall game more.
“Pain is definitely a physical thing, but it’s also a mental thing,” Brown said. “So Joe (Mazzulla) has allowed me — even though my team physically can see maybe I’m in a bit of pain — that they trust me to go out there and I can control my body and still be able to make plays and mentally be able to kind of push through it.
“I think that’s going to be something I’m going to have to have in my back pocket, so I’ve been just utilizing these games in order to feel things out. Things will get better, I’m sure. But if they don’t, I still have a good feel for where my baseline is at and stuff like that. Because there’s no guarantee, honestly, that rest is going to make anything better. I wish it would, but it’s kind of the cards that are laid out.”
The early returns have been promising. Brown is currently on a minutes restriction, so that’s another aspect he needs to navigate over these final few games. But these live reps are important when it comes to Brown figuring out what he can and can’t do with his knee and athleticism.
Brown’s role on the team is also important — that was seen last playoffs when he was named NBA Finals MVP. He often is the one setting the tone physically for the Celtics, including matching up against the opposition’s best player. Brown takes immense pride in his conditioning and will, but that’ll likely need to change if he’s shorthanded in the playoffs. Fortunately, the Celtics have a deep roster that can make up the margins if Brown needs the help. In the meantime, the C’s will hope Brown can recover as much as he can over the next couple weeks.
“Obviously, I haven’t felt my best over the last couple of days, the last couple of weeks, but you kind of just got to roll with the punches, I guess,” Brown said. “It is what it is. It sucks. I wish I could share more details, but whatever my team needs, whatever I can do, whatever I got, I’m gonna give. So I’m looking forward to just taking it one day at a time, and I’m hopeful that some things will improve over the course of this next two weeks or so.”
