Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Fournier struggles in post-COVID Celtics return

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Friday, 23 April 2021 22:04

Celtics guard Evan Fournier struggled Friday night in his first game since recovering from COVID-19, missing all seven shots he took in 22 minutes of Boston's 109-104 loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Brooklyn Nets in New York.

Fournier, who hadn't played since April 4, talked afterward about the difficulty he had battling through the virus, which caused him to miss nine games.

"My experience -- where do I start? The first two days I was doing great, no symptoms at all, and then flu-like symptoms, high fever, really tired, fatigue, all that," Fournier said. "I honestly stayed in bed and slept for four or five days. The roughest part was ramping up the activity. The last two days of practice was really hard. I had moments where I was doing good and moments where I was exhausted.

"That's why you have to push through it. You have to do it to feel better. I don't want to spend another week just ramping up my activity and doing cardio and all that. I need reps with the guys."

Celtics coach Brad Stevens stuck with Fournier on the court down the stretch Friday night even as he was missing shots, both because the veteran sharpshooter still would earn the respect of the defense and because Boston simply needs him to get back in game shape as quickly as possible as it fights for positioning in the middle of the East playoff picture.

"Yeah, he's going to probably, very likely at least, going to struggle, and we just don't have time to practice," Stevens said. "He's got to play, he's got to get himself up to speed.

"Evan obviously couldn't make a shot, but I just asked him how he felt. He said he was pretty winded out there. So that was not a huge surprise. But it is good to get him those minutes, and I don't think he'll have many games like that."

Friday night was just Fournier's fifth game since Boston acquired him from the Orlando Magic a month ago, as he missed one game due to a false positive test before then testing positive for the virus and being forced to sit out. Boston used a large chunk of the trade exception it generated in the Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade to add Fournier, who should be able to give the Celtics the kind of versatile offensive weapon this team has desperately missed off the bench this season.

And, after missing so much time, Fournier said he was ready to get back on the court as soon as he could -- even if that meant his legs would be a little slower than if he'd taken more time to get himself right.

"I probably could have waited a few more days or a few more games to really feel better, but I just got here and I need reps to play with the guys and really understand the system offensively and defensively," he said. "So I only had two days of practice, and for me the most important thing is just to be out there. It's going to be hard obviously, but I have to fight through it and push through it because to me that's the only way I'm going to feel better at some point."

Read 260 times

Soccer

Messi sets 2 more MLS records in 6-2 Miami win

Messi sets 2 more MLS records in 6-2 Miami win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLionel Messi set the Major League Soccer record for most goal contr...

European soccer review: Real Madrid clinch LaLiga, Stuttgart thump Bayern, Arsenal and Man City win

European soccer review: Real Madrid clinch LaLiga, Stuttgart thump Bayern, Arsenal and Man City win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWhat a Saturday across European soccer! Real Madrid took down Cádiz...

Xavi: Girona loss tells the story of our season

Xavi: Girona loss tells the story of our season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsXavi Hernández said Saturday's crushing 4-2 defeat at Girona was em...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Edwards outduels Jokic: Wolves 'know who we are'

Edwards outduels Jokic: Wolves 'know who we are'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDENVER -- If you asked another young star what it felt like to go i...

Former Laker Morris dies at 33, family announces

Former Laker Morris dies at 33, family announces

EmailPrintFormer Michigan standout and Los Angeles Lakers draft pick Darius Morris has died at 33, h...

Baseball

Arraez a big hit in Padres debut, goes 4-for-6

Arraez a big hit in Padres debut, goes 4-for-6

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHOENIX -- Luis Arraez had four hits and an RBI in his first game a...

Judge: First ejection of career 'very surprising'

Judge: First ejection of career 'very surprising'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Aaron Judge has accomplished plenty during his nine-yea...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated