Boston Celtics: 3 reasons the season is over

1. Boston really missed Kyrie and Hayward

Another surprising development during the postseason was the play of the Celtics without their two best players in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward.

Out since opening night, Boston has grown accustomed to playing without Hayward, but Irving was only ruled out for the playoffs in early April, causing the team to readjust its offensive game plan on the fly.

What transpired was a beautiful display of team basketball, as 5-6 players would routinely pour in double figures, while the leading scorer would unpredictably rotate from night to night.

For the most part, that type of play worked for the C’s, but there were times throughout the series, and especially in Game 7, where Irving’s shot-making abilities were sorely missed.

As arguably the best ball-handler in the game with the ability to finish from any and all angles with both hands, Irving can get his shot whenever he chooses to, and there is very little a defense can do to stop him.

Throughout the course of the seventh game, Boston’s offense broke down, and it couldn’t get a decent shot, instead forced to heave contested outside jumpers.

With Irving on the court, the Celtics’ offense drastically improves, as his ability to get to the rim would give his team a bailout option if necessary.

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Playoff basketball is all about valuing each possession. Not to say that Boston didn’t value its opportunities, but so many of them ended in a terrible shot. Had Irving been playing, he certainly would’ve been able to create better looks for both himself and his teammates.