The Boston Celtics have every little thing it is advisable to win a championship — however we all know that already.
We additionally know that there are in all probability solely two groups in all the league with a legit shot at stopping Boston’s repeat try. However as Celtics followers ought to know all too properly, there’s a third issue that would very properly rob this workforce of a second title: accidents.
Whereas Boston has averted main, season-ending losses up up to now (knock on wooden), there have been sufficient nagging accidents piling up that ought to trigger concern. Whether or not it’s Jrue Vacation’s mallet finger, Jaylen Brown’s knee and most not too long ago, Jayson Tatum’s ankle sprain, all of those accidents can construct up and cease Boston from taking part in its greatest basketball when it must.
And because the postseason sits 25 days away and the Celtics firmly planted within the two seed, the one factor they need to be frightened about is ensuring their high eight guys are as near 100% as doable. At this level, with what this workforce is able to, the one factor that ought to matter is taking part in basketball in June.
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photos
With simply ten video games remaining within the common season, Boston must be extra targeted on relaxation then ensuring the beginning 5 is getting reps collectively. It ought to as an alternative be letting guys like Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh get some severe run earlier than they take their seats on the bench for the playoffs — although with how Scheierman has been taking part in the final week, it’s doable head coach Joe Mazzulla places him on the ground within the postseason.
Nevertheless, it’s additionally comprehensible that the 65-game requirement for postseason awards is significant to gamers like Brown, who’s at 57 video games performed as of right now. Meaning he must play eight of the final 10 with a purpose to qualify for these awards. And after taking part in simply 26 minutes and scoring 9 factors towards Sacramento, after lacking 4 of the final 5 video games, the dialog must be had whether or not Brown makes the push for the 65 recreation mark.
Personally, it makes probably the most sense to have Brown miss out on the 65-game mark, and play 4 or 5 of the ultimate 10. Brown has stated it himself, numerous occasions, that the one factor that issues is successful. To place himself and the workforce, in the perfect place to try this, it in all probability means sacrificing any doable postseason accolades.
With reference to Tatum — who sprained his left ankle throughout Monday’s win over the Kings — the Celtics ought to shut him down till that ankle is as wholesome as doable. It appeared like he was in good spirits within the locker room postgame, sporting neither a boot or crutches, in line with Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.
Nonetheless, relying on the severity of the sprain, the harm may have a nagging impact, and if not rested correctly, nonetheless linger into the playoffs. At this level with an eight-game lead over the Knicks for the 2 seed, there may be actually no excuse for Tatum to be pushing to play. He’s already hit the 65 recreation mark, so the Boston employees shouldn’t let him contact the court docket for at the least per week. Regardless of how a lot he needs to combat them on it.
“A whole lot of head butting,” Tatum stated on March 14. “I perceive the steadiness of being recent for hopefully the lengthy playoff run … I attempt to keep prepared and play as a lot as I can.”
There may be additionally at all times the harm concern with Kristaps Porzingis, however with regard to bodily accidents, he has stayed largely wholesome since his Christmas Day harm. He clearly has had the difficulty with the thriller sickness that saved him out eight video games, however he has bounced again properly since returning on March 15. That stated, the Celtics ought to nonetheless be cautious with the large man. There isn’t any motive for him to endure a major harm in a meaningless common season recreation.
Vacation additionally appears to be bouncing again properly from his mallet finger harm. His capturing nonetheless has ebbs and flows, however as seen final 12 months, Boston will want him extra for his defensive playmaking anyhow.
The one factor that ought to change the outlook concerning relaxation is with Cleveland and the No. 1 seed. The Cavaliers dropped four-straight video games and at the moment are solely 4.5 video games forward of Boston. It’s nonetheless not very doubtless, however until issues go actually south in Cleveland, the C’s shouldn’t be exerting extra vitality than wanted for seeding.
In the long run, Boston must be taking each step vital to verify it’s wholesome, and rested, as doable earlier than April 19 rolls round. a possible first spherical matchup with Atlanta, it ought to give some room for the Celtics to get again right into a groove earlier than the later rounds.
“Taking part in on this workforce, it’s actually about successful,” Vacation stated. “It’s not in regards to the stats.”
