For most of the season, the Boston Celtics were cruising and seemed like a sure lock for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. Fast forward a few weeks towards the end of the regular season, Celtics find themselves in second place. The absence of Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart due to injury may not cost them that important second seed but it continues to raise serious concern as the playoffs inch closer.
Kyrie Irving was only expected to miss three to six weeks after undergoing knee surgery, while Marcus Smart has been ruled out indefinitely after suffering a torn tendon in his right thumb and having surgery last month per Jamie Cooper.
In regards to Irving and Smart, coach Brad Stevens said:
“We can’t necessarily think that those guys are going to be back any time soon.” Stevens said focus is on who they have now since that’s likely who they will have at start of the postseason.”
Irving and Smart are still expected to return in the playoffs at some point, but the Celtics still don’t have a potential date. Brad Stevens will continue to prepare his team for the playoffs without two players who are vital to Celtics’ system and style of play.
Steven also gave an update on Gordon Hayward, who he says is progressing well but confirmed that Hayward will play no part this postseason. Hayward suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the regular season.
Flip the page to check out the tweet and video of Stevens giving an update on Hayward.
