Along with the rest of the Celtics fan base, my heart sunk when I heard that Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the 2018 NBA season. My first thought: “Well, there goes their playoff chances.”
But after thinking about the odds-defying season Boston has had this year, I changed my mind. The Kyrie Irving injury won’t be the end for this team.
Sure, the C’s have a more difficult run ahead of them. Sure, their odds to win are slimmer, but this injury won’t crush the Celtics. Against all odds, Boston will, at the minimum, make it to the Eastern Conference Finals this year.
Here’s why:
1) Brad Stevens
Stevens has been, far and away, the most valuable asset the Celtics have possessed over the past five years. From Isaiah Thomas to Avery Bradley to Marcus Smart to Terry Rozier, Stevens has been able to take whoever is starting at point guard and win games. In this year alone, Brad’s had to beat opponents by mixing and matching his available talent. Considering the amount of time missed between Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, Marcus Morris, and Marcus Smart, the Celtics’ 55-win season is beyond impressive. Brad Stevens has a week to prepare his team for the playoffs, and I trust him to pull this mess together.
2) The Celtics Have Other Options
Boston’s second unit is better than half of the starting line-ups in the league. Guys like Terry Rozier, Marcus Morris, and Aaron Baynes are all deserving of starting jobs on other teams. If those guys step up to fill the holes, they can compete with any team in the Eastern Conference. Morris has been playing great lately, and if he stays hot, the Celtics have a chance. My only concern is leadership. Someone needs to step up and take control of this team.
3) Home Court Advantage
The Celtics are shaping up to be the two seed in the East, which means they’ll have home-court advantage until the ECF. Home court matters in Boston. Celtic fans in the TD Garden can singlehandedly turn a game around. The energy fans give the team is irreplaceable, and it’s partially responsible for their miraculous success this year.
If you add all these factors together and toss in some traditional Boston underdog magic, the Celtics can go deep into the NBA postseason this year. If a couple bounces go their way, don’t be surprised to see another parade in Boston.
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