Celtics notebook: Returns from injury, Muscala fitting in, & a new car for Jaylen Brown?

The injury bug hasn’t hit the Celtics, this is an injury infestation. 

Marcus Smart (ankle), Jaylen Brown (face), and Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness) are already ruled out for tonight’s game against Milwaukee. Robert Williams (ankle) and Al Horford (knee) are questionable, which means the entire preferred starting lineup will miss tonight’s game if both bigs are downgraded. 

That leaves Boston with a potential starting lineup of Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Grant Williams, and Blake Griffin, with Malcolm Brogdon, Mike Muscala, Luke Kornet, Mfiondu Kabengele, and JD Davison off the bench. 

There is actually some good news, though.

Brown’s facial fracture isn’t as bad as it could have been. 

“Had to get a couple scans, see a bunch of specialists and different doctors to get all the info, but they came to the determination I don’t have to have surgery, so that’s the good thing,” Brown said of his injury. “I’m just happy that I don’t have to go through that process because I probably would have missed a lot more games. So I don’t think it’ll be too long. I figure I’ll be fine.”

In fact, Brown wouldn’t even rule out playing in the All-Star game, saying he’s “taking it day to day … It’s been tough to sleep the first couple of days, but I’m all right. It’s going to take more than a Jayson Tatum elbow to take me out.”

Brown says he’s been fitted for a mask, so he’ll have a new look whenever he returns. 

Smart seems to be edging closer to a return as well. Two weeks ago, he told the media that if this was the playoffs, “I probably would've tried it. But not right now.” It’s actually a refreshing approach for Smart, who has a history of trying to get back to the floor as soon as possible. It’s helped that Boston is largely winning without him, even though we’ve seen obvious offensive struggles. 

“Marcus is feeling a lot better. He’s getting on the court,” Brad Stevens told the media late last week. “He’s got a little bit of pain in that same ankle he sprained last year and then re-aggravated in the fall, but he looks like he’s getting a lot closer to me when he’s on the court.”

WHITE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

One of the reasons Boston has been able to withstand Smart’s absence is White, who was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Not only did the Celtics go 4-0, White averaged 24.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 38.0 minutes per game. White was the only player in the NBA to shoot at least 50.0 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from three-point range, and 90.0 percent from the line in four games played.

White scored a regular season career-high 33 points (12-19 FG, 8-14 3FG) against the Hornets, and finished with 10 assists, three rebounds, three blocked shots, and a steal. He became the first player in NBA history to record eight three-pointers, 10 assists, and three blocks in a single game. White also tied the Celtics' record for most three-pointers in a single half with seven made in the first half, joining Kemba Walker (2019) and Raef LaFrentz (2005).

MUSCALA FITTING RIGHT IN

It’s only been two games, but Muscala seems to have slid right into a comfortable role with the Celtics. That could make this an underrated deadline day move. 

“When people described Mike … they always talked about the way he approached his work, the way he was as a teammate, the way he competed to win. That was the most important thing,” Stevens said. “Anybody that played with him would tell you they love playing with him, which, like, an alarm goes off in your head. That’s a person you want to have around.”

You can see it already in the locker room. With 15 players sharing that space (17 if both two-way spots are filled and those guys are around) NBA locker rooms are the smallest in major pro team sports. Personalities are magnified, which is why the Celtics front office puts a premium on not disrupting chemistry. 

“Mike came here, I told him, ‘Cherish this, because it might be one of the best locker rooms you have,’ the group of guys that we have and basketball players,” Joe Mazzulla said. “Their ability to just be professional, regardless of the circumstances, is special. Fortunate to be around that.”

Muscala has started off shooting 8-15 over his first two games, 6-13 from 3 and scoring 12 and 10 points. But more importantly, he’s already making a positive impact on his new teammates.

“Mike's a great dude,” Payton Pritchard said of his new teammate. “He fits this locker room great already and obviously we see that he can really shoot it and space the floor. So it's great having him.” 

JAYSON TATUM IN 3-POINT SHOOTOUT

According to Shams Charania, the rest of the field is Sacramento's Kevin Huerter, Miami's Tyler Herro, Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, Portland's Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons and Utah's Lauri Markkanen.

I’m curious to see how Tatum does, but I don’t think he’ll do well. He has a long, slow release that’ll lead to him rushing at the end. But who knows, maybe he’ll surprise us. 

Why isn’t Hauser in this? 

NEW CAR FOR JAYLEN BROWN?

After beating Charlotte, Tatum was asked about his inadvertent elbow that fractured Brown’s cheek bone. 

“I feel like I need to buy him a car or something,” Tatum said. “First time all season me and him both crash from the corner, and I end up elbowing him in the face. Obviously, I feel terrible, a freak accident, but whether it’s a mask or buying him a car, I think I got it.”

He joked that whatever car he got Brown, it’d be “something safe.” Apparently, word of the new ride never got back to Brown, who was genuinely surprised by the promise when he heard it. 

Can’t promise a car and not deliver on it… can you?