ORLANDO, Fla. — The Celtics are treating Kemba Walker’s knee issues as if it’s an injury because it is.
Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker has dealt with a nagging knee injury all season long.
Enhance your NESN experience by creating an account todayThe Boston Celtics star has battled a nagging knee injury since playing in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. I'm working every single day to get myself prepared to play big minutes in the future. Though COVID-19 threw a wrench into the NBA’s 2019-20 season, the league’s four-month layoff was “super important” for Walker as he attempted to heal, and the progress has been noticeable since play resumed in late July.Walker posted 19 points, four rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes Tuesday afternoon. He’s not coming down and running 10 mid pick-and-rolls in a row and they’re going to him like this and you can blitz him out of that or whatever. And it’s fair to wonder if Brown’s big nights against them during the regular season will make him more of a priority than maybe he seemed at times in those games.The bottom line is that Brown could dictate how this series unfolds. We think back to something Raptors coach Nick Nurse said in December after Brown had a couple big games, including a 30-point outing in Boston’s Christmas Day win in Toronto. “Today was probably the best I’ve felt out there. It was good to make that move and see the ball going and stuff like that.
"I've been going through this pretty much most of the season, even before this bubble stuff. On TV: ESPN for game, NBC Sports Boston for pregame/halftime/postgame coverage.In a series between two evenly-matched teams it feels exaggerated to suggest that a single player might swing an entire series.So, we’ll simply frame it like this: For the Boston Celtics to advance past the Toronto Raptors in an Eastern Conference semifinal series they'll need Jaylen Brown to be one of the most impactful players on the court over the next two weeks. Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker was diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms after being stretchered off the court late in the second quarter of Friday night's game in …
Now with a bit more hyperbole: Brown might just be the most important player in this matchup, which tips Sunday afternoon with Game 1.Brown will often be tasked with defending Pascal Siakam — Toronto’s most dynamic offensive player — and the Raptors will challenge Brown to make plays whenever their defensive focus is on Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum.Which is part of the reason we keep going back to one sequence from the last regular-season meeting between the Celtics and Raptors ...… From sticking with Siakam on that isolation drive and forcing a tough shot, to that chef’s kiss-worthy bounce pass for a Gordon Hayward layup, Brown lit the fuse on what turned into a mixtape of a third quarter for the Celtics in a lopsided win.It offered a glimpse of what Boston needs from Brown to thrive: Stout defense against Siakam, and an ability to create for himself and others while showcasing all the new weapons he’s carrying in his toolbox this season.Brown’s defensive versatility should really be in the spotlight this series. Walker was ultra efficient, sinking 7-of-10 shots while going 10-of-11 from the line. But he can’t sit back on Siakam, who will take open 3-point looks and is even more of a handful when he gets a bit of steam going at the basket.The Raptors have a lot of shooting talent but Siakam is the one player that can routinely erupt for 30-plus points and Brown can’t let him get hot like that.Here’s the most encouraging sign for Boston: In the 57 minutes that Brown and Siakam shared the court this season, the Celtics had a net rating of plus-17.1, including a stellar 91.1 defensive rating in those minutes.Offensively, the Celtics need Brown to knock down 3-pointers when the Raptors give him open looks — he had a trio of third-quarter 3s in that early August meeting — but he’s gotta again thrive on his versatility. He suffered the injury when he collided with LaMarcus Aldridge in a Nov. 9 game against San Antonio.NBA.com is part of Turner Sports Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. I'm just staying positive.
Walker … BOSTON (CBS) — Yeah, let’s go ahead and sound the alarm on Kemba Walker’s left knee.Walker missed another day of Celtics team practice down in Orlando, once again getting the day off to rest his bad left knee. Denver Nuggets Kemba Walker has been discharged from the hospital and will be assessed again on Saturday after suffering "concussion-like … Walker has played just nine minutes total in the NBA bubble as he ramps up from a left knee injury he's dealt with since January.
It seems like he’s getting a little bit of everything, a lot of open-floor play,” said Nurse.
Celtics guard Kemba Walker exited Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets late in the second quarter with an apparent head injury, later being diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms.Postgame, Celtics coach Brad Stevens confirmed "all of the scans and tests ... came back with positive results."
The team later announced that Walker was released to rejoin his teammates for their return to Boston and will be re-evaluated on Saturday.Walker collided with teammate Semi Ojeleye, striking Ojeleye’s abdomen area head-first and going down on to the court in a heap.Walker grimaced in pain as he went down and play was stopped as medical personnel from both teams tended to the star guard who was prone on the floor during an eight-minute stoppage.His teammates gathered round as did Nuggets players, plainly concerned about Walker. That knee has been bothering him since the All-Star break, and unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight. The point guard sat out Boston’s first road trip following the All-Star break in February with the ailment, and six of Boston’s first seven games back overall. Walker missed another day of Celtics team practice down in Orlando, once again getting the day off to rest his bad left knee.