To steal a phrase from a former Boston Celtics head coach, Avery Bradley likely isn’t walking through that door any time soon.
Bradley went down with a nasty hamstring injury Saturday in the Celtics’ Game 1 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, and head coach Brad Stevens said it’s “very unlikely” his starting shooting guard plays in the rest of the series.
Bradley’s absence obviously leaves a significant void in Boston’s lineup. The 25-year-old was the team’s second-leading scorer this season, averaging 15.2 points per game, and arguably is the Celtics’ best on-ball defender. But the Hawks certainly won’t feel sorry for the C’s, who will need to adapt to life without Bradley starting in Game 2 on Tuesday.
So, who will fill Bradley’s role? Marcus Smart likely will shoulder more minutes, but Bradley’s injury could provide opportunity to a pair of rookies: point guard Terry Rozier and shooting guard R.J. Hunter.
“(Hunter and I) talked about it all (Saturday) night,” Rozier said Sunday at the team’s practice in Atlanta, via ESPN.com’s Chris Forsberg. “Me and him got kind of the same mindset, we just always gotta be ready if our number and name is called. We talked about that a lot (Saturday) night. We’re confident in each other and we’re always supporting one another because we came in together. We know it’s big for us. These next few days are very important.”
Rozier, who played in just 39 of Boston’s 82 games this season, said Stevens told him directly he’ll likely see a larger role.
“It clicked in my mind, right from (Bradley’s injury), that my opportunity is here. I may be able to play,” Rozier said. “Coach came up to me and said, ‘Just be ready.’ Then he came up to me after the game and said, ‘Get some rest and be ready to play.’”
Rozier has been an excellent rebounder and has provided hustle in the eight minutes per game he’s averaged this season, but the 22-year-old will need to take his game to another level against a tough Atlanta team. As for Hunter, who made a cameo in Saturday’s loss, he’s looking forward to the potential opportunity with confidence.
“I’ve been comfortable for a while now,” Hunter said, via ESPN.com. “The game has slowed down a little bit, but I’ve been comfortable. I don’t really fear anybody in the league at this point.”
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
