Jeff Green Surgery: Celtics Will Play Inspired with Young Forward Sidelined

Jeff Green's serious health concern is not going to derail the Celtics' season.

Before getting into how this will effect a game being played, it is important to discuss the terrible news.

Celtics GM Danny Ainge released the following statement and was quoted by Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com:

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While we are saddened that Jeff will not be able to play this season, the most important thing is his health, and we were fortunate to have access to an amazing team of specialists to evaluate Jeff's case. The entire Celtics family supports Jeff during this difficult time in his career.

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Doctors detected the aortic aneurysm after a routine physical. He was then examined by a series of cardiologists.

Gary Washburn of Boston.com reports that the Celtics expect him to make a full recovery. 

Certainly, all of my best wishes go out to Green and I hope he makes that full recovery. It is moments like this where we are all reminded that basketball is just a game and an entertaining distraction from all of the different consequences of life.

As far as that game goes, the Celtics will be able to recover from Green's absence.

On-Court Consequences

Green was certainly going to be a valuable member of this team. He had just signed a $9 million, one-year contract. He was going to be the backup to Paul Pierce and an option at power forward when the Celtics went small.

His minutes will be taken by Marquis Daniels and Sasha Pavlovic. There is no official word on if his contract will be voided for this season.

Celtics Thriving in the Face of Adversity

This veteran team will stay focused on the task at hand and play inspired basketball because that is one thing they can control. Everyone on the Celtics right now has to face the dark realities of the frailties of life.

Things happen that we have no control over. The remaining Celtic players will turn their attention to something they can control: their play on the court. They will do this not just to ease their own mind, but to help lift the spirits of a teammate who can only watch them from the sideline.

Green was going to be a key piece, but not one that the Celtics can't replace. The starters will pick up the slack and coach Doc Rivers will find the right mix off his bench.

All of the promise of the Celtics season is still there and so is the promise of Jeff Green's future. This news is not nearly as bad as it could have been.