BOSTON – As we hit this final stretch of the regular season, it’s not all that unusual to see some whacky lineups riddled with unproven, inexperienced players getting major burn while the team’s core players are on the bench.
The Boston Celtics are going to adapt a similar strategy, but not by choice.
We have seen them play short-handed before, but nothing like what we’ll see tonight when they host the Washington Wizards.
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Gordon Hayward (dislocated left ankle) remains out. He’s joined by Kyrie Irving (left knee soreness), Marcus Smart (right thumb sprain) and Daniel Theis (left knee meniscal tear).
The one bright spot on the team’s injured list is Al Horford (illness) who did not play in Boston’s loss to Indiana on Monday but is listed as questionable for tonight’s game.
Boston Celtics
Having played short-handed all season, the Celtics have gone out of their way to not use players who are not available, as an excuse or justification.
And as decimated as their roster is heading into tonight’s game against the Wizards, that mantra remains alive and well.
“Continuing to be the next man up,” said Marcus Morris. “Guys that haven’t played this much throughout the year have an opportunity to go out and compete and be NBA players.”
Celtics rookie Semi Ojeleye will be among the Boston players whose playing time will see a spike in the coming days with so many players out with injuries.
“I’m just trying to be professional, staying ready whether you know if you’re playing or not,” Ojeleye told NBC Sports Boston. “Stay ready mentally, into the game. Everybody has done a great job of being ready when guys have been out all year.”
And it’s a trend that will be put to the ultimate test in the coming days.
Terry Rozier has been among the Celtics who have made the most of an increase role when given the opportunity to play.
In Rozier’s first career NBA start earlier this season when Irving was out with a right quad contusion, he tallied a triple-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Boston’s 103-73 win over the New York Knicks. He followed that performance up with a career-high 31 points and seven rebounds in his second start.
Aware that Irving will be out for a few games, the Celtics will certainly look to Irving to provide some offensive punch which will be needed if they are to improve upon their 5-2 record this season in games without Irving.
“I know it’s not easy,” Rozier said of playing without Irving. “You miss so much with him being out. All you can do is just try to make up for it when you can. We’re gonna need everybody to do that collectively.”