Boston Celtics
Cunningham is out with a collapsed lung, and the Pistons say they’re going to re-evaluate his standing two weeks from now.
The one issues standing between the Celtics and the No. 1 seed within the Jap Convention are the Detroit Pistons and the dwindling period of time left within the common season.
The Celtics have received seven of their final 10 video games, the very best mark of the highest 5 groups within the East, they usually’ve not too long ago gotten a lift from Jayson Tatum’s return. With simply 13 video games left within the common season, the Celtics are 3.5 video games behind Detroit.
On Thursday, ESPN reported that Detroit star Cade Cunningham is predicted to overlook an prolonged period of time after struggling a collapsed lung. The Pistons introduced that he can be re-evaluated two weeks from now, which implies Cunningham can be sidelined till not less than early April.
The playoffs are proper across the nook. The common season ends on April 12, and the playoffs start April 18. Listed here are a couple of methods Cunningham’s absence main as much as that point may influence the Celtics.
Any playoff time missed may make the Pistons extra weak.
The Pistons don’t have a precise timeline for Cunningham’s return but. ESPN’s Shams Charania mentioned there may be “some optimism” that Cunningham could also be again for the playoffs, and that docs are working to get extra info.
Restoration instances can fluctuate. C.J. McCollum suffered the harm twice. According to CBS Sports, one occasion saved McCollum out for almost a month and a half (41 days). In one other occasion, he got here again in three weeks. Gerald Wallace and Terrence Jones each wound up lacking seven video games or fewer.
However, even when Cunningham does come again, it’s not fully sure that he’ll be at full power.
Cunningham is virtually averaging a double-double with 24.5 factors and 9.9 assists per recreation. As a degree guard, he performs a giant function in orchestrating Detroit’s offense, which is No. 8 within the NBA in factors (117.4) per recreation. At 6-foot-6 inches, he’s additionally a tall, athletic defender with size. The Pistons are No. 2 within the league when it comes to defensive effectivity.
Detroit has led the Jap Convention for months now, and can probably stay the highest seed heading into the playoffs, which implies the Celtics wouldn’t play them till the Convention Finals. Nevertheless, shedding a participant of Cunningham’s caliber may make Detroit all of the extra weak to an early upset.
There is perhaps one much less competitor for Jaylen Brown within the MVP race.
Gamers should play 65 video games or extra to be eligible for postseason awards within the NBA. Cunningham has performed in 61, and there’s a chance of him lacking the common season relying on how the following couple of weeks go.
Jaylen Brown has so much to do with why the Celtics are within the place they’re in. Jayson Tatum missed 60 video games and the Celtics didn’t miss a beat. They had been the No. 2 seed final 12 months, they usually’re in place to be the No. 2 seed once more this 12 months.
They’ve endured loads of roster turnover past Tatum after buying and selling Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Vacation within the offseason, whereas shedding Al Horford and Luke Kornet to free company.
Brown has performed himself into the MVP dialog as a fringe candidate. As of Wednesday, he had the sixth-best odds according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Cunningham was fourth.
If Cunningham turns into ineligible, Brown is probably going a top-5 candidate for the award. He’s the one one within the top-six to cross the 60-game mark this season. With 62 video games performed, he has to play in simply three of the following 13 video games to take care of his eligibility.
Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama have performed 54 video games this season. Luka Doncic has performed 57 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has performed 58. An prolonged absence for any of them down the stretch may enhance Brown’s odds much more.
The momentum may shift much more.
Detroit had already cooled off earlier than Cunningham’s harm, shedding 5 of their final 9 video games.
The Celtics, then again, have received 12 of their final 16 video games and are more healthy than they’ve been all season. They’re nonetheless lacking Nikola Vucevic, who has been coping with a fractured finger, however Tatum, Brown, Derrick White and firm have been rolling recently.
Boston and Detroit are the highest two groups within the Jap Convention standings. The Celtics appear to be gaining power heading into the playoffs, whereas Detroit appears to be shedding steam.
After all, something can occur within the playoffs. The Celtics may get bounced within the first spherical like they did final 12 months, or they may make it to the Convention Finals and arrange a showdown with Detroit.
There’s greater than a month of basketball left earlier than these two groups may meet within the playoffs, however the best way issues unfold between from time to time may get fascinating contemplating the newest developments with Cunningham.
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