This topic contains 3 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar omphalos 13 years, 9 months ago.

  • Author
    Posts
  • #43438
    AvatarAvatar
    IndianaBasketball
    Participant

    http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/8419886/avery-bradley-not-even-close-returning-according-boston-celtics-coach-doc-rivers

    Late December return for Bradley?

    Updated: September 24, 2012, 3:58 PM ET

    By Jackie MacMullan | ESPNBoston.com

     

    Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley, who underwent separate offseason surgeries on his shoulders, is "nowhere near ready" to participate in the team’s training camp, which opens on Friday, coach Doc Rivers said.

    The 21-year-old Bradley gamely tried to fight through a series of dislocations of his left shoulder, but finally had to be shut down during the playoffs and had the left shoulder surgically repaired. He later had his right shoulder repaired in early July.

    A source said in July that Bradley would likely be ready in time for training camp in September, but the Celtics later acknowledged he could miss the early part of the season.

    Early last month, Bradley said he wasn’t sure when he’d be able to fully resume basketball activities.

    "For any athlete, especially me being a young athlete, it’s hard for me to not to be able to wake up every day and play the game of basketball," Bradley said. "It’s hard for me. I just have to take it day by day and let my body heal itself."

    The emergence of Bradley last season is one of the reasons Rivers felt comfortable moving veteran Ray Allen to the second unit to provide some pop off the bench.

    Bradley proved to be a relentless defensive player who melded well with the high-octane Rajon Rondo in pressuring opponents. The tandem of the athletic young guards accounted for some of the most electric plays of Boston’s season.

    Just don’t expect to see the duo in the early part of the Celtics’ season.

    Information from ESPNBoston.com’s Chris Forsberg was used in this report.

    0
  • #715936
    AvatarAvatar
    IndianaBasketball
    Participant

    This hurts the Celtics, but I think Courtney Lee will more than just step in. He’s an underrated two way player, who can play in the half court or transition. And of course Jason Terry will do what he does off of the bench.

    0
  • #715938
    AvatarAvatar
    Lipstick
    Participant

    Without Bradley they still have much more depth than last season. Plus, this is a great opportunity for Lee. All the Celtics should care about is getting into the playoffs. I guess that’s three generic statements but oh well…

    0
  • #715991
    AvatarAvatar
    omphalos
    Participant

     Yeah they played against Miami with a crippled Allen and Daniels, Pavlovic among others. Lee will be a huge upgrade over them until Bradley gets back, hopefully sooner rather than later, but Bradley will be mire important in the playoffs than the regular season.

    0

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login