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Celtics star makes honest confession on health after Bulls loss
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- Celtics star makes honest confession on health after Bulls loss
Jaylen Brown has been carrying a heavy load all year long for the Celtics with Jayson Tatum sidelined with a torn Achilles. However, that load keeps growing more and more as the season wears on. Brown is averaging 36.1 minutes per game in January and it appears the heavy floor time is starting to catch up with him.
The All-Star forward has appeared on Boston ’s injury report for the last two games with hamstring tightness. He played both games, including scoring a team-high 33 points in 37 minutes in a 114-111 loss to the Bulls on Saturday night. That followed up 46 minutes in a double overtime win over the Nets on Friday night.
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Brown did not play with the same level of speed as usual on Saturday night and acknowledged he will need to be careful with his status moving forward.
“I want to play, but at the same time, you’ve got to be smart over the course of a season,” Brown told reporters via Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe . “You don’t want to play one game and risk being out for five to 10, you know what I mean? So, you know, sometimes I need those guys to protect me from me.”
The tough news for Brown is there is no meaningful break coming in the schedule for Boston until the All-Star break. The Celtics play every other day for the next two weeks and have not had two days off in a row since Jan. 14.
With Brown playing 37 or more minutes in three of his last four games, it’s important for Joe Mazzulla to take more of a cautious approach with Brown leading into February. The strength of schedule (next five opponents will be sub-.500) should help on that front but the challenge will be .ensuring Brown stays healthy now for the long haul. The Celtics are in position to make noise in the playoffs this year with Jayson Tatum’s return looming, but running Brown into the ground now does not bode well for that
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A rest day or two could go a long way on this homestand for Brown but the team should be keeping a close eye on their prized star as the grind to the All-Star Break continues.
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