Boston’s Top Seed Hopes Slipping Away
After their most recent loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the hopes of securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs is definitely slimmer. A couple of games back, they were only about a game back from reclaiming the top spot. They were even in the running for the best record in the NBA. Now, they are 3.5 games behind Cleveland.
All this happened when Kevin Garnett got injured. Without Kevin Garnett for the last 11 games, the Boston Celtics have lost 5 games. Some weren’t even close games. It wasn’t the tough schedule that got to them. It was just plainly the loss of one of the big three, Kevin Garnett. Kevin brings unwaivering intensity on and off the court for the Celtics. He is one of the team’s most vocal leaders along with Paul Pierce. Another reason for their woes was probably the absence of Rajon Rondo for a few games, but that doesn’t compare to what they lose with Garnett on the side lines.
At the rate they’re going, and if Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic decide to step it up, the Celtics might even end up with only the third spot in the East. If the playoffs were to start now, the Celtics would end up playing the tough Pistons. Even though the Pistons are in an up and down battle to secure a playoff spot, a matchup against Milwaukee would be more favorable. (Oh wait, they just lost to Milwaukee.) What could we expect of the Celtics now? If Kevin Garnett starts playing again, we should see their efficiency go up. But if not, well, I doubt they would go lower than the third spot in the East anyway.
Related posts:
