Avery Bradley's injury could keep him out until January

Avery Bradley injury update: Celtics guard says he's 'ahead of schedule'

After undergoing surgeries on both shoulders in the offseason, Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley is looking to get back on the court earlier than expected, according to a report by Dan Duggan of the Boston Herald on Friday.

With head coach Doc Rivers shooting for a mid-December return for Bradley, the two-year pro out of Texas started conditioning on Thursday, including lifting weights and shooting jumpers, in a continuing effort to see if he can return to action even quicker than that.

"That's what they have right now. I've just got to take it day-by-day and see how I feel," Bradley said in the report. "I'm ahead of schedule now, so you never know."

The tenacious perimeter defender had surgeries in June and July. Prior to those, Bradley had tried to play through the injuries during the Celtics' postseason run a season ago, but was officially shelved during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Avery Bradley injury update: Celtics' guard 'nowhere near returning,' says Doc Rivers

It appears that Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley's shoulder injury will cause him to miss far more time than anticipated this season. Celtics coach Doc Rivers told ESPN Boston's Jackie MacMullen that Bradley is "not even close" to returning to action, and he could be out until January.

"I don't like to put a time limit on injuries, but I don't think you'll see him before December -- and there's a chance it could be closer to January.''

The 21-year-old Bradley suffered the shoulder injury late in the 2011-12 regular season. He fought through the pain to play in 10 playoff games before finally being shut down for good after Game 4 of the Celtics' second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. There was a chance that he might be available for the start of the 2012-13 regular season, but it appears those hopes have been dashed.

Bradley emerged last year as a tenacious defender, allowing Rivers to move Ray Allen to the bench to provide more scoring. Allen has since departed for the Heat, but the Celtics signed Jason Terry and Courtney Lee to fill in as Bradley recovers.

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Avery Bradley Injury: Celtics Guard Will Have Shoulder Surgery, Out For Remainder Of Playoffs

As initially reported on Thursday, it is now confirmed that the Boston Celtics will be without the services of Avery Bradley for the remainder of the postseason.

On Friday, the official Celtics Twitter feed reported that Bradley will have shoulder surgery. Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said of the situation, "It's disappointing. He's been terrific this year."

The guard had been a vital part of the Celtics' backcourt down the home stretch and into the playoffs. He had been dealing with shoulder injuries for some time, but the deciding blow appeared to come in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers, when his left shoulder popped out while taking a foul from Jrue Holiday in the third quarter.

Rajon Rondo, who was already doing much of the heavy lifted for Boston, will find even more pressure on him with Bradley out.

For more on Bradley's injury and the Celtics series against the Sixers, check out Celtics Blog or stop by SB Nation Boston.

Avery Bradley Injury Update: Celtics' Guard To Have Shoulder Surgery, According To Report

The Celtics' Avery Bradley is likely to undergo season-ending surgery on his injured shoulder, according to Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston. Bradley's left shoulder has repeatedly dislocated this season, forcing trainers to pop it back in on the fly in order for the guard to return to action. This occurred during Game 4 of Boston's series against the Philadelphia 76ers, with Bradley returning to the court and playing through pain. But the youngster from Texas, who's provided a boost in Doc Rivers's lineup, sat out the past two games still ailing from the dislocation in Game 4. Now, according to Forsberg, he will not return for the decisive Game 7 or the rest of the Playoffs should the Celtics advance:

With surgery unavoidable in order to correct the issues, Bradley is expected to go under the knife as soon as the team determines he's able. According to the source, Bradley is looking at a four-month recovery process, but the hope is that he'll be ready in time for the team's October training camp.

While the team has still not officially ruled out a return, the dislocation in Game 4 was reportedly the final straw as team doctors determined that the risk for a more serious injury was too high should he play again.

Bradley became a solid contributor for the Celtics down the stretch, filling in for the injured Ray Allen and standing out on the defensive end. He was particularly valuable against the Sixers' guard-heavy attack, but it looks like the Celtics will have go again without him.

For more on Bradley's injury and the Celtics series against the Sixers, check out Celtics Blog or stop by SB Nation Boston.

Avery Bradley Injury Update: Shoulder Problems 'Likely' To End Celtics Guard's Season

Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley may miss Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers and, in fact, could be done for the season, according to a report on Wednesday. Bradley, who sat out the last two games for the Celtics, has been dealing with a shoulder injury. In Game 4, his shoulder appeared to come out of its socket for a third time this postseason. Although he played through the pain then, he hasn't been back on the court since.

The report comes from the Boston Globe.

The Celtics are not expected to have Avery Bradley for the rest of the season because of a left shoulder injury. A source close to Bradley told the Globe that its in the percentile is in the "high 90s" that Bradley will be shut down and will perhaps need surgery.

The news came down shortly after the Celtics fell to the Sixers, with Philly forcing a decisive Game 7, which makes it a double-whammy for Boston.

Avery Bradley Injury Will Likely Keep Him Out For Game 6, Maybe Longer

The Boston Celtics are not the deepest team in the NBA, but Doc Rivers' team has been able to get by thus far with the players available to him on the bench. Unfortunately his bench will be a bit short once again on Wednesday night, however, as the Celtics try to close out the Philadelphia 76ers on the road.

Spot starter Avery Bradley has been dealing with intermittent injury issues throughout the NBA Playoffs, but it seems the defensive dynamo will likely miss Game 6, and maybe not more.

Doc Rivers says he doesn't think Avery Bradley (shoulder) will play in Game 6. #Sixers #NBAPlayoffs @CelticsBlog

— Gethin Coolbaugh (@GethinCoolbaugh) May 23, 2012

Avery Bradley: "I don't think I'll be able to play tonight."

— Gary Dzen (@GlobeGaryDzen) May 23, 2012

Bradley was dejected. Seemed like he was resigned to not playing. Wouldn't commit to playing in a Game 7 or next series.

— Gary Dzen (@GlobeGaryDzen) May 23, 2012

This is unfortunate news for the Celtics, but as long as Ray Allen is back to being 100 percent, it shouldn't have that big of a deal on the outcome of the current series. Going forward is likely a different story, though, considering how many injury issues the Celtics have already been dealing with this year.

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Avery Bradley Injury: Celtics Guard Out For Game 5 Vs. Sixers

Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley will not play for Boston in its Game 5 showdown with the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. WEEI's Mike Petraglia also reports that Bradley may be done for the rest of the playoffs with injuries to both shoulders.

Bradley has been a vital piece of the Celtics' rotation in recent months, shoring up a backcourt that can struggle to score from the perimeter with Ray Allen on the bench and carving out a role as one of Doc Rivers' most trusted reserves by stepping up while Allen has struggled to stay healthy this season.

Bradley played 28 minutes in Game 4, scoring eight points and snagging three rebounds for the Celtics. He scored 14 points in his first game of the 2012 NBA playoffs, but has not reached double figures in points since.

The Celtics not having Bradley tonight might screw up a Heat-Celtics Eastern Conference Finals. Bomani Jones wouldn't like that.

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Avery Bradley Injury: Shoulder Pops Out, Celtics Guard Keeps Playing

Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley, who has battled a left shoulder injury throughout the playoffs, is playing through pain in Game 4. Bradley was fouled by Jrue Holiday with 10:49 to play in the third quarter and it appeared his left shoulder popped out for the third time this postseason.

Bradley walked hunched over toward the Celtics' bench before gathering himself to shoot the two free throws. Ray Allen went to the scorer's table to replace Bradley, but Bradley stayed in the game. He suffered a similar injury in Game 2 of this series and Game 3 of Boston's first-round series against Atlanta.

For all news and information regarding the Philadelphia 76ers, please visit Liberty Ballersor head on over to SB Nation Philadelphia. For updates and perspective on the Boston Celtics, check out Celtics Blog or stop by SB Nation Boston.