Many think the Boston Celtics have a serious chance at contending in the Eastern Conference this season. They brought in All-Star big man Al Horford, rookie wingman Jaylen Brown and they already have a nice core led by Isaiah Thomas. What they also have a plethora of is young talent but two of their important rotation pieces are currently fighting injuries.
Last night, Celtics young point guard Marcus Smart suffered what appeared to be a pretty serious ankle injury and had to get helped off the court.
Stretch big man Kelly Olynyk underwent offseason shoulder surgery and just started to make his comeback a few days ago. He has yet to be cleared for full contact drills but a return could be in the cards before Thanksgiving.
Following from A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE on the status of Marcus Smart.
The left ankle sprain injury Marcus Smart suffered in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s game against New York is expected to keep him sidelined for a couple weeks which means he will not play in the season opener against Brooklyn next week, according to (a) league source.
It is the same ankle that Smart has sprained before, but it doesn’t appear to be as bad an ankle sprain as the ones he has had previously.
And Jay King of Mass Live reports that C’s general manager Danny Ainge is hopeful Smart will be ready for the season opener. He also says Kelly Olynyk will be ready to go by mid-November.
Marcus Smart still hasn’t been ruled out of returning by opening night but Kelly Olynyk should miss at least the first two weeks of the regular season, Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge indicated during a Thursday morning appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher & Rich.
“We don’t know enough to determine whether he’ll be ready to play opening night or how long he’ll be out,” Ainge said on the radio show. “Obviously we’ll be very careful with him, but those are just sort of — I think over the next few days we’ll have a little bit better of an indication on Marcus’ ankle and how much it swelled. It didn’t seem to be a terrible one, but he was in some pain so it’s a little bit concerning.”
Olynyk still hasn’t been cleared for full contact after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.
“Kelly won’t be ready to play the first game,” Ainge said. “I think optimistically we’re looking at the middle of November for his return.”
Both guys are in very different spots concerning their current injury. Olynyk’s return is not too much of a bother given the state of the C’s current front line. Kelly would seemingly be battling for minutes with Jonas Jerebko and Tyler Zeller as the first big off the bench to relieve Amir Johnson and Horford.
For Smart, the issue is pretty similar. While he might be the first guard off the bench for Boston, they still have good options in his absence. Terry Rozier has shown signs of progress during the preseason, Gerald Green can play alongside either Avery Bradley or Isaiah Thomas and if R.J. Hunter makes the team, he could also find himself in that guard rotation.
The bigger reason for the C’s to make sure these two come back healthy is the prospect of a potential trade this season. The C’s have an embarrassment of young talent and assets and it might be time for them to make a move and get back into the discussion as a legit title contender. Olynyk and Smart can both be important pieces in a potential blockbuster deal.
