Jaylen Brown Questionable Friday vs. Hawks

The Celtics can’t seem to get their whole team healthy at the same time. Kemba Walker sat out on Wednesday for rest purposes, but he and Daniel Theis should be back in the lineup Friday vs. the Hawks. That said, Brown is now listed as questionable with a knee injury. He’s had a career-year in 2020-21, averaging 25.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Marcus Smart also remains out of the lineup with a calf injury.

If Brown cannot suit up, look for Walker and Jayson Tatum to see the biggest boosts on offense. Walker has increased his usage rate by +5.5% with Brown and Smart off the court this season, while Tatum has seen a bump of +4.6%. Tatum’s average of 1.29 FanDuel points per minute is also the top mark on the team in that situation.

The Celtics’ offense will be in a good spot vs. the Hawks on Friday, with Atlanta ranking merely 21st in defensive efficiency. They would be a nice team to target if they’re shorthanded.