![Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the season and playoffs [Image by Erik Drost / Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/4/5/660x290/b_502x220x82/kyrie-irving-will-miss-the-rest-of-the-season-and-playoffs-image-by-erik-drost-commons_1923035.jpg "Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the season and playoffs [Image by Erik Drost / Commons]")
The Boston Celtics made some huge moves when the 2017-18 NBA season started and moved ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers talent-wise. After Gordon Hayward fell to injury before his Boston career could even start, Cavs fans felt the playing field had leveled off but Kyrie Irving exploded for the Celtics while Isaiah Thomas and Derrick Rose, who the Cavaliers brought in to replace him, washed out. Now, with the NBA playoffs just a week away, the Celtics got some horrible news and the Cavaliers might have finally found a way to catch Boston. Kyrie Irving will miss not only the rest of the regular NBA season but also the Nba Playoffs and postseason after having knee surgery.
Kyrie Irving's injury
A few weeks ago, Kyrie Irving had to undergo minor knee surgery and the plans were for him to get it over with and return in time for the NBA playoffs. However, the soreness in his knee did not go away after sitting a few games to rest. The Celtics hope that he would end up recovering and leading them on a title run started to dissipate.
ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday that NBA sources told him that Kyrie Irving has now been told he will miss the rest of the 2017-18 NBA season -- including the playoffs and postseason run.Beat reported Adam Kaufman added that the Celtics believe that Kyrie will end up needing another surgery on his knee.
The NBA playoffs outlook for the Boston Celtics
This pretty much ends any chances the Boston Celtics have for an NBA Championship this season. When it comes to Kyrie Irving, the Celtics know that they would rather have him healthy for years to come rather than rush him back for a hopeful championship this season, only to see him suffer even more damage to his knee.
The Boston Celtics are still a good team without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, but they are no longer elite. The Celtics will rest the rest of their starters and key players until the NBA playoffs start, limiting their minutes to make sure no one else falls to injury.
What this really does is open the door for the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
With Toronto beating Boston on Wednesday night, the Raptors have pretty much locked up the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed. As for the Cavs, as long as they stay on Boston's side of the playoff brackets, the chances of them making the Eastern Conference Finals is very much improved and the only team Cleveland really needs to worry about now is Toronto.
