 Third year guard Avery Bradley returned to practice this Monday for the slumping Boston Celtics for the first time this season. Bradley was forced to miss the eastern conference finals against the Heat last season due to needing surgery on both shoulders. Many thought Bradley's season, and even young career may have been in doubt, which gave rise to the Celtics signing a Christmas stocking's worth of guards this offseason, including: Jason Terry, Leandro Barbosa, and Courtney Lee. Despite these signing's the Celtics have stumbled out to a less then impactful 12-11 record to start the 2012-2013 season, and find themselves looking up at the division leading New York Knicks, as well as the recharged relocated Brooklyn Nets who have two wins on the Celtics already heading into their third matchup on Christmas day in the Barclays Center.
Many have given Kevin Garnett the credit for the Celtics rise from and under achieving 8th seed to their Eastern Conference Finals last season. Certainly the move from power forward to center helped KG revitalize his season and career, as he played inspired basketball and looked like the Big Ticket that we had acquired from the T'Wolves in the summer of 2007. However it was Doc River's choice to move Avery Bradley to the starting shooting guard position and have future hall of famer Ray Allen come off the bench. That move ignited the Celtics backcourt, and along with Garnett’s inspired play, turned the Celtics to an 8th seed after thought, to being one win away from playing in another NBA finals. Bradley went down with his shoulder injuries in the second round against the 76ers, which left the Celtic's with an aging Ray Allen on Swiss cheese ankles and career journeyman Keyon Dooling as the only shooting guards on the roster to go against the explosive Miami Heat. Once again the Celtics find themselves counting on the return of Bradley, who will most likely return to action in early January. Time will tell if Bradley's return will help the slumping Celtics rise up the Eastern Conference standings. Certainly Boston is looking forward to Bradley's on court return, especially after two underwhelming losing to the Spurs and Rockets this past weekend. - Joe Passarelli |
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