Bobby Manning

3 weeks ago | clnsmedia.com | Bobby Manning

BOSTON — Jaylen Brown returned from an off night in Memphis, scored 24 points on 10-for-20 shooting in a loss to the Heat and did little to dispel concerns about his health entering the playoffs on Wednesday. It is what it is. “I was in some pain today,” he said. “But pushing through it. Trying to find ways to still be aggressive and find ways to add value to the team, and stuff like that. It’s just something I gotta work through and manage … I’m just gonna say for now it hurts.

3 weeks ago | clnsmedia.com | Bobby Manning

MEMPHIS — Derrick White called the 2022 NBA Finals his lowest moment. A 5-for-8 start from three in Game 1 buoyed his overall percentage, but White closed 5-for-14, missing all five threes as his minutes dropped in Games 5-6. The Celtics lost and decided they couldn’t play White because the Warriors could ignore him. That fueled a summer that changed his career. “What happened in the Finals and how I was being guarded on that stage, it was one of the lowest points.

3 weeks ago | clnsmedia.com | Bobby Manning

MEMPHIS — Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser took over half of the court for the Celtics’ shootaround on Monday morning. Derrick White arrived later for a workout, but the closing stretch of Boston’s season has belonged to the rookie. Messages and retweets continue to flow in from friends, family and fans reacting to his Rajon Rondo-esqe drop off pass to Neemias Queta late in the Celtics’ win at Phoenix on Wednesday. And that’s the game where he played the least recently.

3 weeks ago | clnsmedia.com | Bobby Manning

Luke Kornet received extra minutes in San Antonio on Saturday with Al Horford resting, the Celtics’ third center who’s emerged as more of a luxury this season by growing stronger and pairing his reads and screening ability with more forceful offensive rebounding. His first play late in the first quarter came setting up Jayson Tatum for a pull-up three, securing the board and firing a pass to Jrue Holiday for a three that pushed the Celtics ahead, 30-19, in their eventual 121-111 win.

3 weeks ago | clnsmedia.com | Bobby Manning

Jaylen Brown returned atop the Celtics’ offense on Wednesday and ran up his net rating with Jayson Tatum sidelined with an ankle injury. While multiple ailments have forced Brown off the floor too, and could require more rest with only nine games remaining on Boston’s schedule, the Celtics have increased flexibility 5o manage both down the stretch and adjust rotations in the playoffs due to Brown’s improvements as a playmaker.