©  2108 Jordan Long  Sports-Scoop.com | Sports with Attitude The Boston Celtics have hit the stretch run to the playoffs.  They are 50-23 and only 3.5 games behind the Toronto Raptors for 1st place in the Eastern Conference.  They now need to move forward without forward Kyrie Irving who is out 3 to 6 weeks because of surgery to his left knee over the weekend.  He will be out the rest of the regular season. According to bleacherreport.com, Head Coach Brad Stevens said, “He’s a competitive guy. He doesn’t want to miss a game. But at the end of the day, his health is the most important thing.”  Irving will be back for the 1st-round of the playoffs. This is a big loss for the remaining 9 games of the season.  Irving is one of the the team's top offensive players with 24.4 points and 5.1 assists per game.  He is the one who sets up the offense and calls out the play to run. The Celtics will miss his leadership on the offensive end....

©  2108 Jordan Long  Sports-Scoop.com | Sports with Attitude The Boston Celtics are in the playoffs. They have clinched a playoff birth with their record at 46-20.     With that, questions are swirling about whether small forward Gordon Hayward will be ready to go for the playoffs.   In October he dislocated and fractured his tibia.   But last week Hayward was making jump shots -  a good sign that he will be ready for training camp next season. According to yahoosports.com, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said, “I don’t believe that Gordon thinks he’s going to play … I don’t think so, no.”   There is no reason to bring Hayward back so soon.     He is taking jump shots as part of his rehab and hasn’t practiced with the team, the next step in showing that Hayward is ready to play.     The Celtics could use him if he were 100%, but the fact is he is not.     It would be a shame...