Fournier Status Update

[Roy H.]

Evan Fournier will miss his ninth straight game as he remains in the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols. However, he has been cleared to be around the team after recovering from COVID-19 and was in the building Wednesday getting some advice from another coronavirus recoveree in Tatum.

“I’ve talked to him quite a bit about it,” Tatum said. “He’s asked me things, and I told him how I felt, and things to look out for when you get back. I think the toughest period is when you first get back, obviously, because you’ve been sitting down for a while and because of the virus. Hopefully he’ll be alright - I’m sure he will. But he knows I’m here for anything while he’s dealing with it.”

One question:  If he’s still in protocols, why can he be around the team?  Being able to integrate with teammates but not being able to play seems odd.

[Birdman]

What’s going on here?

[FatKidsDad]

He may very well be sufficiently recovered for everyday activity but not up to the exertion level required for NBA play.

[Roy H.]

He may very well be sufficiently recovered for everyday activity but not up to the exertion level required for NBA play.

Yeah, but under those circumstances I would think it would simply be a team decision regarding conditioning, rather than officially being in NBA protocols.

[bopna]

This probably means when he does play..he aint the same player we would expect due to covid recovery and conditioning.

[Celtics2021]

He may very well be sufficiently recovered for everyday activity but not up to the exertion level required for NBA play.

Yeah, but under those circumstances I would think it would simply be a team decision regarding conditioning, rather than officially being in NBA protocols.

By NBA rules a player has to go through at least two days of activity post-quarantine before being eligible to return.  I believe he came out of quarantine Monday or Tuesday, so the absolute earliest he could have been available was tonight.  From Ainge’s comments it sounds like they do take it a little more cautiously — and given the amount of experience the Celtics have with Covid cases at this point, that makes sense — but they’re targeting Sunday for a return.

[Roy H.]

He may very well be sufficiently recovered for everyday activity but not up to the exertion level required for NBA play.

Yeah, but under those circumstances I would think it would simply be a team decision regarding conditioning, rather than officially being in NBA protocols.

By NBA rules a player has to go through at least two days of activity post-quarantine before being eligible to return.  I believe he came out of quarantine Monday or Tuesday, so the absolute earliest he could have been available was tonight.  From Ainge’s comments it sounds like they do take it a little more cautiously — and given the amount of experience the Celtics have with Covid cases at this point, that makes sense — but they’re targeting Sunday for a return.

Ah, I see.  I think it’s odd that the rule doesn’t allow guys to jump right back in, but at least that explains the situation.

[Goldstar88]

Fournier (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) remains out for Thursday's game against the Suns, but Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said the swingman could return to action "maybe this weekend," Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Though Ainge didn't confirm as much, Fournier appears to have completed his mandatory quarantine and is in the process of ramping up again after having missed nine consecutive games (including Thursday) while in the health and safety protocol. Since Thursday marks the front end of a back-to-back set, Fournier won't have the opportunity to practice ahead of Friday's game in Brooklyn, so he could have a tough time gaining clearance to play in that contest. Sunday's game in Charlotte would seem to be a more realistic target for Fournier's return, provided the Celtics are satisfied with his conditioning following a nearly three-week layoff.

[Roy H.]

This probably means when he does play..he aint the same player we would expect due to covid recovery and conditioning.

Yeah, all cases are different, but he could be significantly affected.  Tatum indicated that he uses an inhaler before games now, something he never did before.

[JBcat]

This probably means when he does play..he aint the same player we would expect due to covid recovery and conditioning.

Most likely.  It took Tatum at least a month before he started looking like his old self. On the other hand when Thompson came back he looked great.   It really depends on the degree of symptoms Fournier has.

[CFAN38]

This probably means when he does play..he aint the same player we would expect due to covid recovery and conditioning.

Most likely.  It took Tatum at least a month before he started looking like his old self. On the other hand when Thompson came back he looked great.   It really depends on the degree of symptoms Fournier has.

When Fournier returns unlike Tatum he will have the benefit on being able to ease into his role and minutes.

[PAOBoston]

It’s probably most likely related to conditioning. Don’t think they allow them to do any sort of physical exertion while quarantined so dudes been sitting around eating Cheetos for the last couple weeks.

[ozgod]

This probably means when he does play..he aint the same player we would expect due to covid recovery and conditioning.

Most likely.  It took Tatum at least a month before he started looking like his old self. On the other hand when Thompson came back he looked great.   It really depends on the degree of symptoms Fournier has.

It depends on the type of viral load he got and how quickly his immune system was able to respond. I have two friends, both in their late 20s, that got the virus - one's experience was that it was no worse than a bad cold for him, while the other was in bed for a few weeks and even now still has some after effects, two months later.

But even if he gives us 10ppg that's still 10pts more than we had while he was absent so there is that