Avery Bradley Dealing With Sore Shoulder, Anticipates Playing Vs. Bulls
BOSTON (CBS) -- Avery Bradley is off to a blistering start to the 2016-17 season, and the Celtics are hopeful a sore shoulder won't slow their shooting guard down.
Bradley missed practice on Tuesday with a soreness in his right shoulder, which has been bothering him since training camp started in mid-September. It's the same shoulder Bradley had surgery on back in July of 2012.
"Avery is just going to get it checked out by Dr. [Brian] McKeon. He told me he is very sore today but he said he's just been that way since training camp started," Celtics head coach Brad Stevens told reporters on Tuesday. "He's been getting extra treatment on it and everything else, but for whatever reason was a little more sore today.
Stevens said Bradley anticipates playing Wednesday night when the Celtics host the Chicago Bulls at the TD Garden, but that decision will be up to Dr. McKeon and team trainer Ed Lacerte.
Bradley led all scorers on Saturday night with 31 points in Boston's 104-98 win over the Charlotte Hornets, draining a career-high eight three pointers. He also pulled down 11 rebounds that night, and leads the team through three games with 8.7 boards per contest.
If Bradley cannot go on against the Bulls, the C's would certainly miss the 21.7 points he's averaged to start the season (on 52 percent shooting). But judging from Isaiah Thomas' comments after Tuesday's practice, he expects Bradley to join him in the Boston backcourt against Chicago.
"[If he can't play] I'll score 40 then; it's that simple," Thomas joked. "I think he'll be alright. I didn't even know he was hurt today. He'll be fine. It's national TV, he's definitely going to play. We'll see."
While there's some uncertainty surrounding Bradley, all signs are pointing to guard Marcus Smart making his return on Wednesday night. Smart has yet to make his season debut after spraining his ankle in Boston's final preseason game.
Stevens also announced that Al Horford left Tuesday's practice due to an illness, and his status for Wednesday night remains up in the air.
