Jaylen Brown's Achilles Is a Problem. The Celtics Can't Afford to Pretend It Isn't.

Jaylen Brown has missed multiple games with Achilles tendinitis. The Celtics have the 2-seed locked, so they can afford to rest him now. But "Achilles tendinitis" and "heading into the playoffs" are two phrases that should never be in the same sentence.

The Celtics say it's precautionary. They have Derrick White dealing with a knee issue too. Boston's depth should carry them through the final game, but if Brown isn't 100% for the first round, that's a fundamentally different Celtics team. He's their second-best player, their best perimeter defender, and the reigning Finals MVP from two years ago.

The smart play is to sit him through the end of the regular season and have him fresh for the playoffs. But "fresh" and "Achilles tendinitis" are different things. The Celtics need Brown healthy — not just available, actually healthy. There's a difference, and Boston's entire title defense might hang on it.