Just when the rest of the East breathed a sigh of relief, Celtics’ Jaylen Brown rumors put them on alert again. The defending champions are here for business, and their last 10-game record of 8-2 reflects what they are at the business end of the tournament. The most successful team didn’t allow laxity to come to their plate after winning their 18th title last season and has locked in the 2nd seed this season with a 61-21 record. This means their opponent will be the winner of the Magic-Hawks play-in game. But the last few games didn’t seem to give much of a good look at Brown’s immediate playing future as he was out of the court for 3 games straight. And now, heading into the Hornets clash, Coach Mazzulla has tapped into the Greens’ veins worldwide, with his big update.

His words? “Just part of the rehab process for him to get back to to be his absolute best. So he’s continuing to take care of himself, putting himself in great position, you know, to be ready for next weekend,” said the gaffer in the pregame presser when asked about the injections he took to recover quickly. He’s been given a much-needed timeout for the past three games. But while others are getting some rest, he’s been recovering from a knee injury. Credit whom? The efforts the Boston medical staff have taken to ensure his timely return are lauded by Joe.

“He knows his body better than anybody. He knows exactly where he’s at… Just the most important thing is trusting him and trusting his camp. And Drew Moore does a great job with him. Our sports science team does. So he made the call to just put himself in the best position. And he’s continuing to do that.” The coach is putting his faith in the current Finals MVP. Not everyone gives you an average of 22+ points in every game with 30 and above minutes of game time. Brown is a threat to anyone coming his way, and the Celtics know it well.

So it’s set then- we could see a Jaylen Brown masterclass yet again soon, and it might be next week. The media asked about that timeline- will he be ready next week? Mazzulla had the perfect response: “100% confident in him because of the work ethic he has, the mindset that he has, and the preparation that he puts himself in.” The Celtics just won their last season game against Charlotte 93-85, which means their next game will be the playoff game against the winner of the Hawks-Magic game. They seem prepared, but the winner of this 7th & 8th seed play-in won’t be here for ‘better luck next time’ either.

Maine Celtics’ JD Davison converted to standard NBA contract

There’s no substitute for hard work. And when the time comes, you will be rewarded for it. It’s the relentless mentality and work ethic of guard JD Davison that got him converted to a standard NBA contract as their 15th man heading into the playoffs. Three years of two-way contracts, 142 G League games, and a G League MVP later, he’s signed a two-year contract with Boston. His secret? “Trusting in God, and the prayers worked.”

It’s been an unbelievable season for the 22-year-old Alabama native. He averaged 25.1 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Maine Celtics, shooting 48.2% from the field and 33.2% from the 3-point line, and helping them reach the Eastern Conference finals. It wasn’t meant to be for Maine. JD will be using that heartbreak to fuel and push Boston past that point and straight to their back-to-back championship success.

“I think just validation in the work and the patience and the time from the years that he’s been with us,” Mazzulla said. “Obviously it’s easier to see the on-court development and how he’s gotten better… So, I just felt it was the right thing to do because of what he’s done for our program and what he’s done as a player and what he’s done as a person off the court. So, I’m really happy for him.”

What a breath of fresh air for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown could be back to haunt the NBA next week, and JD Davison’s hard work has paid off right as the playoffs enter the picture. The buzz in Boston is hard to miss right now, as they’ve set up their potential championship success perfectly with fresh squad updates.