Rob Lunder covers the Boston Celtics for Rant Sports. For all Celtics news go to the team homepage on Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @rlunder18
Avery Bradley has returned for the Boston Celtics and he has given the team a nice lift over the last few games. It was unclear whether he was going to come off the bench or start initially, but those questions have been put to bed as head coach Doc Rivers threw him right into the fire on his first game back. In his first game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Bradley played 20 minutes and didn’t score much, but played his usual in your face defense that often makes opposing players look and feel uncomfortable.
Bradley’s return is big news to a team that has truly needed a lift. For a majority of the season, the team has looked uninterested and has often played with a lack of energy, especially in meaningful games.
The nice part about Bradley’s return is that it puts everyone in their comfortable roles. He was at his best last season when he was playing with the first unit. His return also positively affects Courtney Lee and Jason Terry. Their minutes will go down, but they will be in the roles that the team initially planned for them to be in when they acquired the pair over the off-season. Terry had been starting for the most part and it has become evident he is most comfortable coming off the bench as the team’s sixth man. Lee has also played much better as of late, and he is at his best when he is in a reserve role playing 10-20 minutes a game.
Bradley’s return should benefit the Celtics as the season progresses and the team is hoping that he provides a similar spark that he gave them last season.