Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon has been playing through a significant injury, as he suffered a partially torn tendon in his right elbow during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, reports Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
Sources tell Weiss that Brogdon was initially dealing with a sore elbow during Boston’s second-round series against Philadelphia, but it got worse when he tore the tendon boxing out Kevin Love in the first quarter of Game 1 vs Miami. An MRI confirmed the injury.
According to Weiss, Brodgon has been dealing with “pain and swelling in his arm and wrist,” affecting his ability to shoot comfortably. Weiss points out that Brogdon, the Sixth Man of the Year winner, shot 44.4% from three-point range during the season but is just 3-of-14 during the Miami series, which Boston trails 3-1.
Brogdon has also limited his pregame shooting to mitigate the pain and has been driving more to compensate, per Weiss. The veteran guard is just 1-of-11 for two total points over the past two games, so clearly the injury has been limiting his effectiveness. He had posted solid numbers (14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists on .446/.435/.846 shooting) in the 13 playoff games prior to tearing the tendon.
Despite the discomfort, Brogdon plans to keep playing through the injury and will determine whether or not surgery is necessary after the season concludes, sources tell Weiss.
That’s explain his recent slump, wish him quick recovery.
Set him up for surgery now and keep him home. Boston isn’t taking the next 3. Get Malcolm 100% for 2023-24.
If he can’t even shoot then he shouldn’t play. We can’t afford goose eggs
Fee Pritchard and Hauser. I knew Brogdon would get hurt in the playoffs.
I appreciate the toughness but isn’t he doing a disservice to the team if he’s ineffective? Thoughts?
I’m thinking the coach would pull him aside and say, what’s up you’re 1-11 ? Then a good coach would sit him on the bench. So sure admire the player for suiting up, but the coach needs to do his job and sit him down.
Whichever player(s) …. Horford, Tatum, Brown, Smart … That are supposed to be the leadership of a championship contender, should be able to pull him aside to sit out. However, that is IF they think him playing is a problem. If he wants to go, and they want him, then he is a go!
Boston can completely change what this series looks like with a win tonight.
Sit him. BOS doesn’t have great depth talent-wise, but talent hasn’t been their problem in this series (or the prior two, or last years’ playoff series). Energy and focus have been. Pritchard and Muscala might actually add something.
Boston Celtics 6th man winner Malcolm Brogdon is out. Or should be out. I saw Grant help out wonderfully in the do-or-die game. Now, today, this game, this is why guard Payton Pritchard is here, right? We’ve seen him get hot. Remember his triple double on the last day of the season? Payton Pritchard can be a “scoring machine” if we go 2 him & get him going. Have Jaylen & Jason defer to him, feed him, for a few minutes. The Heat are likely unprepared. I would hope Payton gets significant minutes, say 20? Go Celtics!