It's truly incredible that the Boston Celtics have been able to stay in second place in the East and keep on winning games without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward.
Obviously Hayward has been out since the first game of the season, but Boston has been playing without Irving since March 12th. As much as they didn't want to get used to playing without Irving and were hoping he'd return for the playoffs, we learned Thursday that he won't be back at all this season.
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Irving underwent a procedure to remove a tension wire in his knee on March 24th and while the team was hopeful he'd be able to make a return at some point, that clearly is no longer possible.
Even though the Celtics have been winning without him, it's a huge blow to a team that has battled through injuries all season long and it has a major impact on the Eastern Conference. Here's how the basketball world reacted to the devastating news:
Damn @KyrieIrving sorry to hear about the injury. Sending prayers your way
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) April 5, 2018
Take my knee I don't need it homie @KyrieIrving
— ZooMass (@ZooMass) April 5, 2018
Celtics season is over. Kyrie Irving ruled out for the season.
— Anthony Thompson (@TonyTHEsharp420) April 5, 2018
Damn @KyrieIrving thought you was gonna make it to the Finals without Lebron😪. Sucks but get well while watching the Cavs in the finals again.
— Kdawg Baby😛 (@BigKdawg095) April 5, 2018
RT @wojespn: In the aftermath of left knee surgery, Boston Celtics All-Star guard Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the regular season and playoffs. pic.twitter.com/DYsUggxyzF
— Casey Baker (@CaseyBake16) April 5, 2018
LeBron catches another break...
— Matt Weaver (@matteweaver) April 5, 2018
cavs won th etrade
— dnadez (@Dnadez) April 5, 2018
Celtics Fans right now pic.twitter.com/uexqIy8WIs
— Beast (@XxCrazyBEAST2xX) April 5, 2018
Damnit.
— Chris Manning (@LD2K) April 5, 2018
All Celtics fans rn... pic.twitter.com/qBycT62fng
— The Shadow League (@ShadowLeagueTSL) April 5, 2018
Good. Rest up with G. Raptors will still lose in 5
— UNCLE DREW (@jcarmona24) April 5, 2018
— Dante Turo (@DanteOnDeck) April 5, 2018
@arronoyague You rn pic.twitter.com/tuCzRhDdfr
— Joshua (@YouKHANDoIt) April 5, 2018
We wish Kyrie Irving a speedy recovery from his knee surgery. Hopefully he can come back 100%. Such a shame that he can’t come back for the postseason. #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/g5Zmgf0694
— Cleveland Sportsline (@CLEsportsline) April 5, 2018
Rational minds inside the Celtics front office had long believed that this was not gonna be their year, that they were massively overachieving. Kyrie’s knee makes that official
— Stephen Asian Smith (@PabloTorre) April 5, 2018
The Celtics have some experience playing without Kyrie Irving this season. He’s been on the court for 1,931 minutes, and off the floor for 1,838. https://t.co/bBih7x0Knl
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 5, 2018
Celtics done... Kyrie done... Sixers it’s our time... #TrustTheProcess
— ipodkingcarter (@iPodKingCarter) April 5, 2018
Kyrie news is a bummer but it’s probably the right thing to do.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) April 5, 2018
Kyrie... I hate it had to be him
— JERREAU (@jerreau) April 5, 2018
Isaiah’s Hip and Kyrie’s Knee pic.twitter.com/0xFLVz7aDR
— 🇨🇦DFS Basketball Guy🏀 (@DFSBBallGuy) April 5, 2018
August, 2017:
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) April 5, 2018
Celtics: “They dont know about Isaiah’s hip everyone be quiet they might actually do it.”
Cavs: “They dont know about Kyrie’s knee everyone be quiet they might actually do it.”
The Boston Celtics got 53+ wins with Smart playing 54, Kyrie playing 60, Hayward not playing at all and a rookie (Tatum) leading them in minutes this year. . .
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) April 5, 2018
I just want Kyrie healthy for 2018-2019, man.
— James Holas (@SnottieDrippen) April 5, 2018
Lebron walking into the finals now that Kyrie hurt pic.twitter.com/n2OMvJIhF5
— KODAK CHAT (@Anfirnee55) April 5, 2018
When you lose Hayward opening night and Kyrie right before the playoffs pic.twitter.com/yRKKzo4yec
— Bostons Diehards (@WTP_BDiehards) April 5, 2018
playoff kyrie is one of the five best things about the playoffs. so him being gone sucks.
— Brandon Caldwell (@_brandoc) April 5, 2018
the other things: playoff bron, eff all y’all steph, zombie spurs and the yearly raptors letdown.
*Kyrie is out for the year*
— KLOW (@0GAnunoby) April 5, 2018
"Yea i wouldnt be suprised if the raptors are first round exits"
How does NBA twitter get that from that bruh?
Never before could I think of a 1st place team that gets more disrespect than the Raptors, and rightfully so, they’re trash in the playoffs, I have more confidence in Cleveland, Boston without Kyrie, Philly and Washington
— Teren Hart (@GiveEm_Buckets) April 5, 2018
No Kyrie = Raptors x Rockets finals. Calling it right now.
— Brown Wolf (@JCjamms) April 5, 2018
Raptors/Cavs fans can be happy about Kyrie getting injured but that only just let whoever wins the western conference win the finals in 4 games 😂😂
— Benny (@BennyAyers) April 5, 2018
Kyrie is out??? Is this the year the Raptors make it to the Finals???
— RipCity (48-30) (@BlazerCrew11) April 5, 2018
Raptors are taking the east if Celtics don’t have Kyrie for the playoffs. You heard it here first
— Avery Sirmans (@AverySirmans) April 5, 2018
Kyrie out... Raptors making it out of the East? 🤔 @ Air Canada Centre https://t.co/JpxP2Vf2yk
— kishan 🌸 (@_kishanmistry) April 5, 2018
If the @Raptors weren't already the favorites in the east ( which they should be anyway!) They definitely are now with Kyrie out. #WeTheNorth
— Brett Reece (@Brett_M_Reece) April 5, 2018
Kind ruin the eastern playoffs wanted to see lebron beat kyrie this season. Ugh but o well raptors irreverent bron makin the finals
— SADDEPRESSDALLASFAN (@KASHMONEYJ1) April 5, 2018
Celtics without Kyrie and Hayward the rest of the year.
— Bryce Zielinski (@zbryce21) April 5, 2018
Cavs are carried by LeBron and Love.
Which Raptors team shows up in the playoffs?
The East is wide open, and it’s there for the #Sixers to take. #HereTheyCome #TrustTheProcess #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/1nK3d8BL8Y
cavs v raptors east final looks very likely given the kyrie news
— Brian Gantt (@briangantt1) April 5, 2018
"Kyrie Irving done for the rest of the year"
— WTP Sports (@WTPsports) April 5, 2018
*Celtics fans* pic.twitter.com/NiFFtC5uP4
BREAKING: Kyrie Irving will miss the entire playoffs
— Celtics Junkies (@CelticsJunkies) April 5, 2018
Is this the biggest what-if season in Boston a celtics history? pic.twitter.com/lH0QeT8gjd
Kyrie Irving done for the season... Such a shame man, loved watching him play this year. Praying for a full recovery for the man, hope we get to see a full Celtics squad next year because they’ll be DANGEROUS
— Mike Korzemba (@mikekorz) April 5, 2018
Wishing @KyrieIrving a speedy recovery and all the good vibes and positive thoughts in the world. But our season isn’t over. #BelieveInBoston ☘️
— Anna Horford (@AnnaHorford) April 5, 2018
Thank you for a hell of a first season in Boston @KyrieIrving. Now get back to 100% and let’s win Banner 18 next season ☘️ #Celtics #ItsAboutToBeCrazyG pic.twitter.com/zUV0N12OUH
— Dante Turo (@DanteOnDeck) April 5, 2018
Kyrie Irving is done for the year pic.twitter.com/petcJY4li1
— Bostons Diehards (@WTP_BDiehards) April 5, 2018
