Celtics ‘grateful’ for Malcolm Brogdon playing through right forearm injury

Celtics ‘grateful’ for Malcolm Brogdon playing through right forearm injury Brogdon’s playing time, performance has decreased



By STEVE HEWITT | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald

May 25, 2023 at 8:23 p.m.


Malcolm Brogdon’s right forearm injury is worse than it initially seemed, but the Celtics guard is pushing through it as best as he can.

Brogdon is dealing with a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow, according to a report from The Athletic. But Brogdon is playing through the injury and hasn’t missed a game yet in the Eastern Conference Finals.

“He’s playing through it, giving us whatever he has, and we’re just kind of going through it like that, how he’s playing and how he’s managing it,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “He’s fighting through, and grateful for that.”

According to the report, Brogdon – who is wearing a black sleeve on his arm – suffered the injury during Game 1 when he was boxing out the Heat’s Kevin Love in the first quarter.

Brogdon was probable for Game 2 with a right forearm strain and played, but his playing time has decreased as the series has progressed. After scoring 19 points in 37 minutes in Game 1, Brogdon played 26 minutes in Game 2 and then just 18 and 17 minutes in Games 3 and 4 in Miami, respectively, as his performance has noticeably declined. Brogdon submitted his first scoreless game of the season in Game 3 on 0-for-6 shooting, and he was shooting 21.4 percent from 3-point range in this series entering Thursday’s Game 5 after going a career-best 44.4 percent from deep in the regular season.

It didn’t seem like Mazzulla was interested in making a lineup adjustment, whether it was giving Payton Pritchard or Sam Hauser more minutes. Grant Williams has seen an increased and important role in the meantime, playing 28.0 minutes per game in Games 2-4 after sitting out Game 1.


Bob
MY NOTE: Clearly, if Malcolm cannot play that's a big loss for us. That doesn't mean we don't have enough to get the job done anyway, that's what happened last night, but others (Pritchard?) need to step up bigly. You want playing time, either in Boston or elsewhere, Payton? Well, here's your chance to show at least 29 other GMs you deserve it.

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It is put up or shut up time for the guys on this team who feel they are just a capable as Malcolm. Weary of the comments that have been made that Pritchard should have been in the game more. It is great when there is a lead and he is put in to hold it and direct the team. Only thing is, more times than not the starters have left the game with a lead only to watch it dwindle.hee was a reason why Brogden was signed and he prova ed his value all year. Okay Payton, you will be performing for a chance with another team, so earn your stripes kid. This is the big show tonight, and show what you really can do. Personally, I feel DWhite will see big time minutes tonight, he was awesome the other night. Grant? you have shown everyone why you should be in there, find your stroke tonight, they are going to need you