The Boston Celtics are comfortably settled into the middle of the Eastern Conference with less than a month remaining in the regular season. Looking ahead to the playoffs, Kyrie Irving has made it clear he fully intends to take it easy before the postseason battles take place.
“I’m definitely taking some games off before the playoffs,” Irving said, per Jay King of The Athletic. “It just makes no sense to put emphasis on these regular-season games when you know you’re gearing up for some battles coming in the playoffs.”
Somewhat ironically, Irving also says the Celtics aren’t ready to settle into a playoff mentality just yet.
“We need more focus and discipline in order for that switch to be turned on. So we have yet to figure out what that switch is for us going into the postseason but that’s why we have 11 games left.”
It might be hard for his teammates to find some of that “focus and discipline” if Irving is taking games off. But that’s none of my business.
Heading into their game against the Sixers in Philly Wednesday night, Boston is the No. 5 seed in the east with a record of 43-28. The Celtics are right behind Indiana (0.5 games) for the No. 4 seed and 6.5 games ahead of Detroit for the No. 6 seed.