WALTHAMBrandon Bass was back on the Boston Celtics practice court Monday afternoon.
Not so fast, Celtics Nation.
Bass missed Sunday's win over Chicago due to swelling in his left knee. The 6-foot-8 forward told CSNNE.com that he's likely out until sometime after the all-star break.
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The swelling in the knee, he says, has been an issue all season long for him.
Bass has been the Celtics' most consistent scorer off the bench all season. And with his steady play, the C's began to shake off their early season slump and surge ahead with several victories.
"That's why I kept playing while I was injured," Bass said. "I didn't want to sit out. I was playing good, so was the team."
But Bass understands the big picture here in Boston.
As much as he would love to be out there playing, he understands that the Celtics are focused more on building toward a strong finish and then being ready to do damage in the playoffs.
Still, that doesn't make it any easier for Bass who is averaging 11.6 points per game which is tops among Celtics reserves this season.
"It's tough," said Bass, who added that the leg was getting weaker the more he played. "So hopefully sitting out will help it get stronger, and I can get back and help us finish strong going into the playoffs."