Celtics' Kelly Olynyk Not Ready For Contact
BOSTON (CBS) -- It doesn't sound like Kelly Olynyk will be ready when the Celtics season opens next week.
Their backup big man is still recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent in mid-May, and the team revealed on Monday that recent tests suggest he's not ready to resume contact just yet. We're at the five-month mark in Olynyk's recovery, which was the approximate timetable for a return, but so far he has only been able to engage in non-contact drills throughout training camp and the preseason.
Olynyk first injured his shoulder last season in Boston's double overtime win over the Clippers just ahead of the All-Star break and went on to miss a month. He returned in mid-March but his stroke suffered. Olynyk played just 32 minutes in Boston's playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, seeing action in four of the six games, hitting just one of his nine shot attempts.
The seven-footer was one of Boston's best shooters last season, hitting 41 percent of his attempts from three-point range.
The Celtics open the 2016-17 regular season next Wednesday, October 26, when they host the Brooklyn Nets at the TD Garden.
