TheBoston Celticsobviously needed Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, but their depth also played a huge role in their regular-season success.
Moreover, Malcolm Brogdon ran away with Sixth Man of the Year honors after an impressive first season in Massachusetts, which is why some were left wondering what went wrong with him in the postseason.
It all makes sense now that NBA insider Jared Weiss revealed that Brogdon has been playing through a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow that leads into his forearm.
Malcolm Brogdon has been playing through a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow that leads into his forearm, per @JaredWeissNBA pic.twitter.com/jPyC5ghD7F
NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) May 25, 2023
Brogdon s numbers have taken a minor dip, but it s his burst and overall play that have looked different.
He s struggled to take care of the basketball, and he s been erratic and hesitant more often than not.
It s unclear if this injury will require surgery, but it s evident that he needs to get some rest before going back to his usual self.
Brogdon is one of the most versatile combo guards in the league.
He s intelligent, savvy, and can play on and off the ball, both as a primary playmaker and secondary facilitator.
Brogdon can also guard multiple positions thanks to his long arms and defensive IQ, and he s the kind of hard-working role player who ll always embrace his role or rise up to the occasion if needed.
But no one is 100% healthy at this time of the year, and that s just one of the many things that come into play when it s NBA playoffs time.
