Boston Celtics in trouble as Jeff Green sidelined for the whole season – NBA Update
The already short-handed Boston Celtics have suffered a major blow before the start of the season.
It has been revealed that forward Jeff Green would not be able to take any part in the 2011-2012 NBA season. Green is set to undergo heart surgery in January which will rule him out for the year. The Boston Celtics first detected
a medical issue with Green on December 9th. Doctors diagnosed him with an aortic aneurysm and after conducting many more tests have come to the conclusion that the player shall go under the knife on January 9th.
The Boston Celtics said the franchise is saddened to learn of Green’s ailment and will miss him during the season. They did make it clear though that the first priority was Jeff’s health.
"While we are saddened that Jeff will not be able to play this season, the most important thing is his health, and we were fortunate to have access to an amazing team of specialists to evaluate Jeff's case," Celtics president of
basketball operations Danny Ainge said in a release. "The entire Celtics family supports Jeff during this difficult time in his career."
Green was acquired by the Celtics last season in a trade that sent fan favourite centre Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He didn’t take to the new surroundings straight away, but gradually grew in stature as the season
progressed.
This season the Celtics were expecting big things of the 25 year old, even casting him as the long term successor to Paul Pierce. With the Big Three of Boston, Paul, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, not able to put in the minutes like
they once used to, Green was being nurtured as one of the guys to ease the pressure on them.
The forward was therefore very upset at having to sit out a complete season when it could have finally cemented his place in the Celtic team and in the heart of the fans. Paul Pierce though said he had sat down with the player
and told him to take care of himself as it was the top most priority at the moment.
"He's down now," Pierce said prior to the team indicating Green would be lost for the entire season. "I had a chance to sit down with him in his locker the other day, and just tell him to keep his head up, regardless of what's
happening, and just try to stay positive."
According to doctors, a cardiac surgery can completely offset the condition Green suffers from and after appropriate rehabilitation he should be able to get fit for the next NBA season.
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