Boston Celtics Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Bucks’ Bledsoe, Connaughton Not Yet Ready To Return

July 30th, 2020 at 12:31pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bucks will be without a pair of rotation players when their season resumes on Friday against the Celtics, as head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed today that Eric Bledsoe and Pat Connaughton will remain sidelined for now, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN.

Both Bledsoe and Connaughton tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the summer, delaying their arrivals to the NBA’s Walt Disney World campus. They’ve each cleared quarantine and have returned to practice, but Budenholzer believes the two veterans need a little more time to get their conditioning and rhythm up to par.

“Everybody else is getting ready to play in a live game and have had 10 to 12 to 14 days of probably 5-on-5 every other day and individual work and all that, so I think giving Bled and Pat a couple of 5-on-5 sessions at a minimum and getting some 3-on-3 in other situations or days,” Budenholzer said, per Woodyard. “They just need to play, so I think that’s a big hurdle and with playing will come both conditioning and their rhythm, so we’re going to make sure they get some of that before we put them in an NBA game.”

With a comfortable 6.5-game lead on the Raptors for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks can afford to play it safe in the seeding games as they gear up for the postseason. They’ll want Bledsoe and Connaughton to be back at 100% by the time the playoffs get underway on August 17.

Bledsoe, Milwaukee’s starting point guard, averaged 15.4 PPG, 5.4 APG, and 4.6 RPG and played strong perimeter defense in 56 games (27.2 MPG) this season. Connaughton provided depth on the wing, averaging 5.1 PPG and 4.2 RPG in 61 contests (18.3 MPG).

The duo hasn’t been ruled out beyond Friday, so it’s possible one or both of them will be ready to go on Sunday night when the Bucks face Houston.

Walker To Be On Minutes Restriction Against Bucks

July 29th, 2020 at 7:39pm CST by Jovan Alford

In a radio interview on Wednesday, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said that starting point guard Kemba Walker‘s knee “is the strongest it’s been since he got here in September” (h/t NBC Sports Boston). Stevens also mentioned that Walker will be on a minute restriction against the Bucks on Friday, likely playing between 14-20 minutes.

Wanamaker Making Most Of Opportunity With Celtics

July 26th, 2020 at 3:29pm CST by JD Shaw

Celtics guard Brad Wanamaker is taking advantage of his opportunity with the team, Taylor Snow of Celtics.com writes. Wanamaker has earned the respects of his teammates as a natural leader, averaging 6.6 points, 2.5 assists and 19.3 minutes as a back-up point guard this season. He recorded nine points, four rebounds and four assists in the team’s scrimmage win against Phoenix on Sunday, logging 21 minutes.

Walker Trending Upwards In Knee Recovery

July 25th, 2020 at 10:58am CST by Dana Gauruder

Celtics point guard Kemba Walker indicated that he’s “trending upwards” while working out with the team as he recovers from left knee soreness, the team’s PR department tweets. “It was really fun to get out there with my teammates,” he said. “The knee feels good. I’m trending upwards.”

Latest On Kemba Walker, Tremont Waters

July 22nd, 2020 at 9:07am CST by Luke Adams

Over the weekend, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens downplayed concerns about the status of Kemba Walker‘s knee, per Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. Stevens offered an update on his star point guard on Tuesday, telling reporters – including ESPN’s Tim Bontemps – that Walker likely won’t play in the team’s first scrimmage on Friday. “But he’s pretty darn close right now,” Stevens said.
Rookie guard Tremont Waters, who is on a two-way contract with the Celtics, suffered a concussion last week, but is in the later stages of the league’s concussion protocol, Stevens told reporters on Monday (link via Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston).

Celtics Notes: Walker, Tatum, Williams

July 18th, 2020 at 11:02am CST by marksuleymanov

Four months after the season was suspended, Celtics guard Kemba Walker is still dealing with a left knee issue that hampered him right up until play stopped. The veteran guard admitted that frustration with the injury is mounting, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps writes.

“It’s definitely pretty frustrating, just because I’m not a guy who misses many games, especially throughout the course of my career,” Walker said. “I’m not really concerned much, honestly, because I’m trending upwards and I’m getting better and I’m getting closer to a return. So, yeah, I’m fine. And I’ll be back better than ever, I think.”

As we relayed last week, Boston head coach Brad Stevens said the team would take it slowly with Walker as teams resumed practice at the NBA campus in Orlando. Despite being limited by the injury, the 30-year-old feels he can help Boston capture a championship once play resumes and knee troubles are behind him.

“I think we can be pretty tough, for sure,” Walker said. “Since (Jayson Tatum)’s been killing it the way he’s been, I haven’t really been able to help out like I really wanted to, so yeah, I’m definitely looking forward to coming back and making an impact on my teammates and just being readier than I was before the season ended.”

Walker has averaged 21.2 PPG, 4.9 APG and 3.4 RPG for Boston in 50 games this season.

Check out more Celtics notes below:

Tatum was in the midst of his best season to date before the league shuttered play and the Boston guard is not short on confidence, NBC Sports Boston’s Justin Leger writes. “I know what I’m capable of, what I think I’m capable of, what I’m striving for,” Tatum said. “That’s the edge that I have for myself. I step on the floor, I think I’m the best player every night.” In 59 games this season, Tatum averaged 23.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 2.9 APG for the Celtics.
While Grant Williams made a solid impression in Boston during his rookie season, spotty outside shooting was the one detrimental aspect to his game. However, as practices have resumed, Williams has impressed with his apparent improved stroke from beyond the arc, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston writes.
For all the latest Celtics updates, be sure to follow our C’s team page.

Walker On "Day-On, Day-Off" Plan For Knee

July 15th, 2020 at 9:25pm CST by Jovan Alford

Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said on Wednesday that point guard Kemba Walker is on a “day-on, day-off” plan to build up strength in his knee. However, Stevens thinks Walker should be available when games begin (Twitter links).

Kemba's Knee Troubles Persist

July 14th, 2020 at 7:41pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Following individual workouts in Boston ahead of traveling to the Orlando campus for the NBA’s season restart, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens noted that All-Star point guard Kemba Walker‘s knee gave him “a little discomfort” and he was subsequently held out of practice Monday, per Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston.

Losing Walker for any amount of time would be a huge blow for Boston’s playoff hopes. Superstar forward Jayson Tatum and two-way force Jaylen Brown have clearly benefitted from Walker’s veteran leadership. In 50 games for the Celtics during the 2019/20 season, Walker is averaging 21.2 PPG, 4.9 APG, and 4.1 RPG, while shooting 37.7% from three-point range and 86.7% from the free throw line. The 43-21 Celtics are the No. 3 seed in the East.

Duke Hires Celtics Assistant Kara Lawson

July 11th, 2020 at 3:33pm CST by Arthur Hill

Celtics assistant coach Kara Lawson has reached an agreement with Duke to take over the women’s basketball program, writes Steve Wiseman of The Raleigh News & Observer. The university confirmed the hiring on Twitter.

Lawson, 39, is with the Celtics in Orlando, where she participated in a practice this morning. She had a virtual meeting with her new Blue Devils players later in the day.

A former star at Tennessee and in the WNBA, Lawson joined Boston’s coaching staff last summer. She will be the first Black coach in the history of Duke women’s basketball, taking over a program that went 18-12 last season with a 12-6 record in the ACC.

Lindsey Harding, a player development coach with the Kings and a former star at Duke, also interviewed for the job, according to Wiseman.

Celtics Moving ‘Very Slowly’ With Kemba Walker

July 11th, 2020 at 11:40am CST by marksuleymanov

Kemba Walker‘s first season in Boston was characteristically strong up until the COVID-19 pandemic suspended play, but his health was a cause for concern.

Walker missed six of the Celtics‘ 10 games before the season was suspended due to a lingering left knee injury. In total, the four-time All-Star had missed 14 games this season, a deviation from the previous four campaigns in which he missed a total of six games.

As the Celtics settle into the Orlando campus amid the NBA’s attempt to restart the season, head coach Brad Stevens indicated the team will play it safe with its prized offseason acquisition.

“We’re going to move very slowly with Kemba Walker and let him strengthen (the left knee),” Stevens said to reporters on Friday, per NBC Sports Boston’s A. Sherrod Blakely. “And make sure that he’s all good to go as we enter the seeding games and obviously, the playoffs.”

Walker, 30, has averaged 21.2 PPG, 4.9 APG and 3.4 RPG for Boston in 50 games this season.