Celtics' Bradley To Undergo Surgery, Out For Playoffs
BOSTON (CBS) - It was the news the Boston Celtics and their fans didn't want to hear, but guard Avery Bradley will undergo surgery on Friday and is officially done for the playoffs.
Head coach Doc Rivers made the announcement at the team's practice Friday morning.
"It's disappointing," said Rivers. "Obviously when a player goes down that's disappointing, especially on what Avery has given us this year. His growth this year has been terrific. It's been great and he's become a very valuable piece to our basketball team."
Doc Rivers On Losing Avery Bradley:
"Avery's a big blow, yeah, there's no doubt," Doc continued. "If I'm the other guys on any other team, and the fact that I don't have to play against Avery Bradley, I would sleep a little better. No one wants to play against Avery. Our guys don't want to play against him in practice. He's a pain in the [butt] defensively. That's what he does."
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Bradley missed Games 5 and 6 of the Celtics Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the Philadelphia 76ers after his left shoulder popped out of place for the third time this postseason. Doctors feared that if he kept playing, and risk having the shoulder pop out again, it would do more damage for the future of the 21-year-old.
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The second-year guard had made big strides for Boston this season, winning a spot in the team's starting five for the injured Ray Allen. He remained a starter when Allen returned, and finished the regular season averaging 7.6 points per game while shooting 50-percent from the floor.
In 10 postseason games, Bradley averaged 6.7 points per contest, and say his shooting dip to 37-percent.
