False positive delays debut of Fournier
Langford, Thompson near return
It was nothing more than what Brad Stevens termed “a curveball,” as it turned out. After an initial false positive COVID test, Evan Fournier turned in a string of negative tests, leading to his first-time availability for the Celtics Monday night against New Orleans.
“He will play significant minutes, as he will all the rest of the year,” Stevens said of how he planned to begin with the talented wing player, acquired from Orlando at the trade deadline for the since-waived Jeff Teague and two second-round draft picks.
“We had an obvious need for another wing that can do what he does, and we’re fortunate he’s with us, and he’s on our team,” said the Celtics coach. “So I got a chance to go over to the gym (Sunday) while he was shooting around when we got back and then this morning we went through some stuff prior to our shootaround, we shot around as a team for 30 minutes, so he’s gotten the crash course in a very short amount of time. He’s a veteran. He’s been there, done that. He’s played against us, you know, tons of times, probably knows our plays as well as anybody, and certainly we just want him to play to his strengths and not worry about anything else.”
Fournier is simply glad that after missing the Celtics’ win in Oklahoma City Saturday night, he was able to get back on the floor.
“I think it was the day of the game in Oklahoma City, I had a test in Boston, and that was a positive test,” he said. “I entered the protocol and I had a test, like a couple tests following the same day, the results were all negative. I had another test (Sunday), everything was negative, so the doctor told me, my levels were actually very low and sometimes it happens, so it might be just a false one. That was the case. I’m glad it’s over because that was not the best timing for that to happen, me just getting started. I’m glad it’s over.”
Though he appreciates Danny Ainge’s long-term hope of signing the impending free agent to another deal, Fournier has enough on his hands at the moment.
“I mean obviously yes but that’s not my focus at all, to be honest,” Fournier said of whether he likes Ainge’s plan. “My focus right now is just to learn the plays, to learn how to play with my teammates, and win games. Obviously, if I can have success here and help the team win and have an impact on winning, that’s too forward. I like to stay in the present, stay in the moment. Just help the team win tonight.”
No place like home
Heading into Monday’s game against New Orleans, the Celtics had played the fewest home games of any team in the league. That starts to change now, with the Pelicans game kicking off a sevengame home stand — the longest of the season.
“I’ve been looking for a long time,” said Kemba Walker. “Just feel like I’ve been on the road, this whole year, this whole season, which can be tough at times, especially with the pandemic going on, things are just a little bit different being on the road. So yeah, it’s really, really great to get back home and be here for an extended period of time and not have to worry about leaving. So I think it’s gonna help us. It should help us establish a good rhythm. Just being at home, it’s really good for us.”
Another blessing is that the gates were opened to 2,800 fans in Monday’s game, with the Garden now allowed to function at 12% capacity in the stands. After playing in an empty Garden all season, even a 12% bump in real crowd noise was welcome.
“Even though it’s gonna be a small amount of people, I think it’s gonna be really great just getting to see people in the stands and hear some real fan noise instead of some fake fan noise. It’ll be cool,” said Walker. ”I think it’d be great. It’d be great. We have some great fans, especially in that building. The energy is always electric whenever the fans get the opportunity to show up.
Langford, Brown sit, Thompson on mend
Romeo Langford was also cleared from protocol and went through his first post-isolation workout before the Pelicans game. Tristan Thompson, who the Celtics could have used against Zion Williamson and Steven Adams, has an unknown return date.
“He got cleared to do all the, you know, drills and work and everything else by our cardiac specialists,” Stevens said of Langford. “So today was the first time he’s done anything in however many weeks, and he felt it. So I don’t know when he’ll be cleared to play, per se, but he’ll certainly come soon and he’ll be active soon, but he’s not going to be able to play long stints for awhile. You may be able to throw him in there in one of these upcoming games at home for a couple minutes at a time, but that’s about it.
“Tristan is still in the health and safety protocols. We’re hopeful to have him back sometime soon, but no specific date yet.”
Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown sat out Monday night with a hip injury.