The Boston Celtics have clinched a playoff spot, but most concerning g is the fact that the injuries are piling up and last night they lost 125-124 to the Bradley Beal-led Washington Wizards in double overtime.
Danny Ainge, the Celtics president of basketball operations, revealed that small forward Gordon Heyward, out since the season opener with a gruesome ankle injury, suffered a setback in his recovery and will most likely not return to action this year.
With 14 regular season games left to play, point guard Marcus Smart is seeing a hand specialist for his sprained right thumb to decide whether he has surgery and shuts it down for the year.
The team is also being extra cautious with Kyrie Irving after he injured his knee on Sunday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers. Although the team expects Irving to be ready for the playoffs Ainge announced that he may require surgery in the offseason.
All these injuries should have Celtics fans worried as they will prove a huge hurdle to overcome. As the postseason rapidly approaches team injuries are appearing at the worst time possible.
While the team expected Hayward to miss the whole season since the start, Irving’s knee injury is a huge blow to their aspirations as the team won’t know for sure, until he steps back on the court, if he’s going to be the same dominant player he’s been this whole season.
Although Irving can be a contributor and do well when he comes back, he will most likely struggle to regain the top form he displayed earlier in the season and be the player that can lead his team to the Eastern Conference finals.
Also, if Smart indeed goes for the surgery and misses the rest of the season things will really change for them because he is the heart and soul of the Celtics defensively.
The Celtics are also dealing with injuries to Daniel Theis (knee – out for season), Jaylen Brown (concussion), and Al Horford (illness).
Jayson Tatum, although he’s been playing, has been dealing with some lower back issues.
