The Boston Celtics will be without Kyrie Irving this postseason, but they still could be getting some reinforcements in the backcourt before the end of the month.
Marcus Smart was reevaluated for his the injury to his torn right UCL, and is expected to be cleared to return at the six-week mark of the surgery, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Shams Charania.
If that’s the case, Smart will be eligible to return on April 27.
Certainly some positive news for the injury-riddled Celtics.
If Smart does, in fact, return by then, the timing would be interesting. The second round of the playoffs are set to begin April 30th, but depending on how the first round plays out, those dates could be bumped ahead to April 28th.
So while the news on Smart is encouraging, it still leaves the Celtics with a tough battle in the first round. If the postseason started today they would face the Milwaukee Bucks. but there’s a chance they still could play the Washington Wizards or Miami Heat. And if Smart does return April 27, it possibly could coincide with an if-necessary Game 7.
The 24-year-old guard is averaging 10.2 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game this season while also playing lockdown defense off the bench for the Celtics.
