How Covid Has Decimated the Celtics

(Boston Globe)

Covid-19 has made an obvious impact on the NBA. From the league wide shut down last year, to the Disney Bubble, to now the fluctuation of available players. Many pundits called last year’s "Bubble Championship" one of the most difficult to win in recent memory. While I do agree, I believe this year's title will be harder. Many players have missed significant time due to positive Covid results and contact tracing health and safety protocols. Teams all around the league have had their rosters impacted by Covid, but nobody more than the Boston Celtics.

(Mary Schwalm/AP)

The Celtics have been one of the biggest disappointment in the NBA this season. While Covid isn’t the only reason for their struggles, it has certainly prevented them from gathering any rhythm. The Celtics currently lead the league in player days missed due to Covid at 131, according to NBC Boston’s Chris Forsberg. Boston is 10 days over the 2nd place team and have more days than the bottom 10 teams combined. The Celtics’ difficulty finding health and cohesiveness can date back to last year’s Playoffs.

(Mark J. Terrill/AP)

Boston had yet another deep Playoff run last year, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to Miami in 6 games. This deep Playoff push was good in the short term, but it is also where the Celtics’ Covid challenges began. With Boston being one of the last 4 teams in the Bubble, their offseason was significantly shortened. The NBA started the year very early to capitalize on Christmas revenue. This caused Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Denver to have incredibly short offseason. Fast forward to this year and 3 of those 4 teams are now underperforming. Boston is obviously disappointing, Los Angeles has battled injuries all year and have fallen to 5th in the West, and Miami has been inconsistent and sit at 6th in the East.

(Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Another consequence of Covid causing the late season and early turn around meant Boston would be without their starting point guard Kemba Walker for the beginning of the season. If the season had started in mid January like originally planned, Kemba would’ve started the year with Boston. Walker isn’t the only star that was affected. Boston’s All-Star scorer Jayson Tatum has also missed significant time due to Covid. Tatum has missed 6 games so far this year due to a positive Covid test. His test result caused Semi Ojeleye and Grant Williams to also missed time due to contact tracing. Lastly, Boston’s biggest offseason signing Tristan Thompson has missed extended time as well. Thompson has missed 14 games due to Covid and hasn’t played since March 14th.

The Celtics came into the season with Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Marcus Smart as expected starters. While those 4 have started when they play, they have only started 17 of Boston’s 51 games together. Covid has not allowed the Celtics to build any rhythm from the jump. While terrible defense and an inconsistent bench are also factors towards their fall off, health and safety protocols have gotten in Boston’s way more than anyone else this year. The Celtics would never use Covid as an excuse, but I will.