Brad Stevens Says Boston Can’t Expect Kyrie Irving Or Marcus Smart To Be Back ‘Anytime Soon’

Since the beginning of the season, injuries have threatened to torpedo the Boston Celtics‘ postseason aspirations. And even though they hold a firm grasp on the No. 2 seed in the East with the playoffs fast approaching, they’ll face an uphill battle for the conference crown if they aren’t able to get back to full strength soon.

Kyrie Irving was expected to miss 3-to-6 weeks after undergoing knee surgery, and Marcus Smart was ruled out indefinitely last month after suffering a torn tendon in his right thumb and having surgery.

Although both are hopeful to return at some point in the playoffs, nobody is sure precisely when. That’s why head coach Brad Stevens is prepping his team to start the postseason without them and insisting they have to be ready to play without those two key pieces.

As it stands, the Celtics could face the Wizards, the Heat, or the Bucks in the first round, none of which will be any easy out, especially if they aren’t at full strength. Both Jaylen Brown and Al Horford have missed time recently after being placed in the league’s concussion protocol, although both have since returned to the lineup.

Gordon Hayward is likewise progressing, but Stevens again pumped the brakes on talk he might become available this postseason after video of him jogging on a basketball court emerged. As Stevens pointed out, he still isn’t making any lateral cuts on that ankle and is just now getting to light jogging.

Boston will have to resist the urge, however, to rush either Irving, Smart, or Hayward back and consider their long-term health, which shouldn’t be an issue for Danny Ainge, who is one of the savviest executives in the league and tends to keep one eye perpetually on the future.