Boston Celtics takeaway No. 1) Injuries, injuries, and more injuries
A part of the game of basketball no viewer likes to watch.
The Boston Celtics entered the night 100% healthy as a unit, and, in a hair under three minutes, Jaylen Brown goes down with an ankle sprain and does not return to the game.
It would not be much longer until Trae Young would almost meet a similar ailment, as the Hawks star point guard would, too, go down clutching his ankle for what appeared to be a less severe sprain.
Young was able to return to the game before the half ended, but did not have the same level of explosion. Still a crafty offensive player with a high IQ though.
Despite similar injuries, you have to consider the thought process behind each coaching staff.
Atlanta is trying to push through the play in spot with little breathing room and is already without their second-best player in John Collins and backup guard in Lou Williams. They could not afford to play cautious and sit Trae.
The C’s. on the other hand, still had one of their stars healthy in Tatum and a competent backup for Brown available in Derrick White, so the ability to play it safe with JB was well in hand.
Other notable injuries came from Atlanta losing bench big man, Onyeka Okongwu, to a possible concussion, and Bogdanovic, who also seemed to twist his ankle but remained in the game.
Injuries are a part of every sport to a degree, but when they come in bunches like these ones, they earn a spot on the takeaways.
The Boston Celtics overcome their injury while the Hawks succumbed to theirs.