The Boston Celtics have all the pieces you’ll want to win a championship — however we all know that already.
We additionally know that there are in all probability solely two groups in your complete league with a authentic shot at stopping Boston’s repeat try. However as Celtics followers ought to know all too effectively, there’s a third issue that might very effectively rob this workforce of a second title: accidents.
Whereas Boston has prevented main, season-ending losses up thus far (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 lately, Jayson Tatum’s ankle sprain, all of those accidents can construct up and cease Boston from taking part in its finest 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 nervous 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.
Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Pictures
With simply ten video games remaining within the common season, Boston needs to be extra targeted on relaxation then ensuring the beginning 5 is getting reps collectively. It ought to as a substitute 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 at the moment. Which means he must play eight of the final 10 with a view to qualify for these awards. And after taking part in simply 26 minutes and scoring 9 factors in opposition to Sacramento, after lacking 4 of the final 5 video games, the dialog needs to be had whether or not Brown makes the push for the 65 sport 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 mentioned it himself, numerous instances, that the one factor that issues is profitable. To place himself and the workforce, in the most effective place to try this, it in all probability means sacrificing any doable postseason accolades.
With regard 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 keeping with Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.
Nonetheless, relying on the severity of the sprain, the harm might 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 sport mark, so the Boston employees shouldn’t let him contact the court docket for no less than per week. Regardless of how a lot he needs to struggle them on it.
“Quite a lot of head butting,” Tatum mentioned on March 14. “I perceive the stability of being contemporary 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 reference to bodily accidents, he has stayed largely wholesome since his Christmas Day harm. He clearly has had the problem with the thriller sickness that saved him out eight video games, however he has bounced again properly since returning on March 15. That mentioned, the Celtics ought to nonetheless be cautious with the large man. There isn’t any cause for him to endure a big harm in a meaningless common season sport.
Vacation additionally appears to be bouncing again effectively from his mallet finger harm. His capturing nonetheless has ebbs and flows, however as seen final yr, Boston will want him extra for his defensive playmaking in any case.
The one factor that ought to change the outlook relating to 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 probably, however until issues go actually south in Cleveland, the C’s shouldn’t be exerting extra vitality than wanted for seeding.
Ultimately, Boston needs to be taking each step needed to verify it’s wholesome, and rested, as doable earlier than April 19 rolls round. Taking a look at 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.
“Enjoying on this workforce, it’s actually about profitable,” Vacation mentioned. “It’s not concerning the stats.”
