January 20: Green will be active Tuesday, the Suns confirmed (Twitter link). Although Ott previously indicated that Green would start, apparently that’s still a ways off — Ott said Tuesday that Green will come off the bench and be on a minutes restriction, per Rankin (Twitter video link).
“It’s not a surprise,” Ott said. “That range of minutes is going to put us in a spot where we feel it’s best and the conditioning piece. Playing shorter stints. He’s in a good spot, ready to go. Just because of that range of competitive minutes, he’ll be coming off the bench.”
Ott added that when Green’s conditioning improves, he’ll return to the starting lineup.
January 19: While he was eventually ruled out of Monday’s game at Brooklyn after initially being listed as questionable, Suns guard Jalen Green is expected to make his long-awaited return on Tuesday in Philadelphia, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (subscriber link).
Head coach Jordan Ott confirmed Green will play tomorrow, barring a last-minute setback.
“Just giving him the extra day,” head coach Jordan Ott said. “Played (5-on-5) Saturday. Because we do have a back-to-back, we knew he probably wouldn’t be playing in the back-to-back. Just seeing how he woke up this morning. Do we give him the extra day or not? That was the decision we made.”
Green last played on November 8 and has only made two appearances this season due to a right hamstring strain.
The former No. 2 overall pick initially strained the hamstring during training camp, then aggravated it during his ramp-up process in mid-October. Green sat out the first eight games of the regular season, erupted for 29 points in 23 minutes in his debut in early November, then aggravated the injury again a couple days later about seven minutes into his second game.
According to Rankin (Twitter link), Ott said Green didn’t aggravate his hamstring a third time during his long layoff — the team was just being cautious with the 23-year-old, who had played all 82 regular season games each of the past two seasons.
“When you do something again, obviously, there’s a level of caution,” Ott said. “Young guy. Long career ahead and soft tissue. We’re trying to meet every metric possible on his rehab. He did it, but no setbacks.”
Ott also said Green will reenter the starting lineup when he returns to action, Rankin adds (via Twitter).
Excited to see what he can do. I wonder if he stays healthy for the next few weeks if the suns will look to move Grayson Allen for a power forward.
I like Jalen Green. Think he still can be better. Just don’t see him with Booker. Bad fit imo. They should move him. They are playing well without him.
Celtics 47 reb ………… Pistons 40 reb …..
Good win ….. Knicks going thru some bumps now. Not worried about anyone in East. Just like Celtics have stepped up. So will the Magic and Cavs. Even Sixers fully healthy are dangerous. Long way to go yet.
Better to add a center now. Then to go in playoffs and wish you had one. You think you can go 7 with Celtics.???? Well Magic, Cavs, Sixers, Knicks all have size.
The Pistons average the 3rd most boards per game with the most blocks and the 2nd best defensive rating in the league. And they’re leading the East.
They seem to be doing just fine with the centres they have.