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Boston Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown has missed three straight games due to a tailbone injury, but it sounds like he's on track to make his return in Thursday night's game against the Knicks. However, the former No. 3 overall pick is expecting to come off the bench.
This might seem like a sketchy decision, but the Celtics are likely being cautious in their approach to Brown's return. Aside from that, Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris have been playing well — a fact Brown reiterated after Wednesday's practice session:
Jaylen Brown reiterated he expects to come off the bench, with Smart and Morris playing well in the starting lineup.
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) December 5, 2018
“I believe in my ability,” Brown told reporters. “Coaching staff believes in my ability. If coming off bench makes sense – people make it a bigger deal than it really is. At end of the day it's basketball. (Gordon) Hayward came off the bench & had 30 points. It's a mindset. It's a choice.”
Brown, now 22 years of age, was a full participant in Tuesday and Wednesday's practices. Exactly how long Celtics head coach Brad Stevens will keep him on the bench remains to be seen.
Brown is an important piece of Boston's rotation, even though he has taken a step back this season after a breakout second campaign. In his 19 appearances with the Celtics this season (all starts), the Georgia native has racked up averages of 11.1 points on 39.8 percent shooting from the field (25.3 percent from beyond the arc), 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 28.1 minutes per outing.
Thursday night's Celtics-Knicks game is scheduled to tip inside TD Garden at 8:00 p.m. ET with TNT having live broadcast coverage.
