The injuries keep coming for Boston
The Celtics are in trouble.
After missing four straight games, starting point guard Kyrie Irving will have “minor” left-knee surgery on Saturday.
It’s been quite a roller coaster for Boston this season. As most NBA fans remember, less than six minutes into the regular season, the C’s lost newly-acquired forward Gordon Hayward for the year. Many assumed the Celtics’ chances at a title run were over. Isaiah Thomas was gone, the team was young, and Irving was the leader.
“Kyrie can’t win without LeBron!”
After dropping their first two games, Boston rattled off a 16-game-winning streak and started the season 22–4, beating juggernaut teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors.
I must have missed Lebron on the court with Kyrie during that stretch…
Anyway, fast forward to today. The Celtics sit at 48–23 on the season and hold the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They have clinched a playoff berth, but they have no shortage of injuries.
Hayward is still out. Jaylen Brown is dealing with a concussion. Daniel Theis is no longer an option off the bench with a knee injury. Marcus Smart, a premier defender in the NBA, may not return this season.
Then there’s Irving.
Although the Celtics have yet to provide a timetable for his return, I can’t imagine seeing Irving on the floor any time soon. Realistically, with about three weeks left in the regular season, Boston can only hope for the all-star point guard to be available at some point during the playoffs.
Even then, would he be fully ready for game action?
Irving leads the team with 24.4 points per game this season, while also averaging 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds. I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to assume this is a massive blow for the Celtics. With their defensive alignment already taking a toll without Smart, Boston simply cannot afford to lose an offensive force like Irving.
That said, the team is coming off a miracle win over Oklahoma City. The Celtics can still win games…no question about it. It doesn’t hurt that head coach Brad Stevens is a genius.
But the way the roster looks now, I don’t see this team making a deep postseason run. It’s unfortunate because the Celtics really looked like the team to beat in the East. Many of us thought this would be the year LeBron’s annual trip to the finals would come to an end.
We can all just forget about that. As good as the Toronto Raptors are, the Cavaliers own them, especially in the playoffs.
Honestly, I really thought Boston was the only team that had a shot at taking down Cleveland for a trip to the NBA Finals. Unless Irving can return to form by the time the playoffs get here, we may be watching another Cavs/Warriors championship battle.
Here’s to a speedy recovery, Kyrie. If not in 2018, maybe next year you can put an end to the “LeBron James Invitational.”
