Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown in, Marcus Smart & Kemba Walker (non-COVID illness) maybe out vs. Chicago
Something (that’s not COVID-19) is flying around the Boston Celtics locker room, and it’s making it a point to hit all of the team’s top rotation players. Given the way that COVID has ravaged this team this season, maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise that the bubonic plague flu (or whatever other type of illness this is since it hasn’t been officially confirmed) has spread like a wildfire.
Jaylen Brown missed Saturday night’s contest against the Golden State Warriors, and while Jayson Tatum was listed as questionable because of an illness for the third time this season, both of Boston’s star forwards feel good enough to play tonight for the Celtics as they take on the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, the same can’t necessarily be said for the team’s starting backcourt.
#NEBHInjuryReport Update:
Jaylen Brown – AVAILABLE
Evan Fournier (Health & Safety Protocols) – OUT
Marcus Smart (illness, non-COVID) – QUESTIONABLE
Jayson Tatum – AVAILABLE
Kemba Walker (illness, non-COVID) – QUESTIONABLE
Robert Williams (left knee soreness) – OUT— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 19, 2021
It appears that Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart are next on this illness’s hit list, so both have been listed as questionable tonight. Additionally, Robert Williams remains out due to knee soreness (I am starting to get a tinge concerned about that), while Evan Fournier works his way back into shape after catching COVID-19. According to Brad Stevens, Fournier is out of quarantine, so now he just needs to take care of the reconditioning aspect.
The Celtics just can’t catch a break. You’ve seen the Hospital Celtics. Now, get ready for the Plague Celtics.
Hopefully everyone’s fine, the Celtics get over this bug, COVID stops attempting to annihilate this team, and everyone gets healthy as Boston approaches the final stretch of the season (with a very favorable 10-game stretch coming up).
The Boston Celtics take on the Chicago Bulls tonight at 7:30 PM EST.