Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Kemba Walker will “most likely” resume his season in Orlando under minutes restriction, according to head coach Brad Stevens.
Stevens said Walker's minutes restriction will probably last at least through he team's scrimmage games and the first week of seeding games.
“The goal is to not be limited once the playoffs come around,” the Celtics coach explained.
Walker is recovering from discomfort in his left knee that began before the 2019-20 season was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, Stevens acknowledged the team would ease the Celtics guard back into form before the start of the playoffs in Walt Disney World.
“We’re going to move very slowly with Kemba, make sure he can strengthen (his knee) and make sure he’s all good to go as we enter the seeding games and into the playoffs,” Stevens said.
Boston (43-21) heads to Orlando in the no. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. With a healthy roster, the Celtics are a popular pick to contend for the Finals after the long layoff, thanks in large part to their depth and youth.
Kemba Walker, in his first season in Boston, was averaging 21.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 42.1 percent from the field, 37.7 percent from deep and 86.7 percent from free-throw line. The four-time All Star has appeared in just 11 games in his postseason career after spending his eight years with the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets.
Boston will scrimmage against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets before opening their seeding games against the conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks on July 31. The Celtics will then face the Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards before beginning their postseason run—presumably with a fully re-acclimated Walker.
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