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Kyrie Irving Expected to Play Against Nets

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 8: Aron Baynes #46 and Marcus Smart #36 help up Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics duriing the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 8, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 8: Aron Baynes #46 and Marcus Smart #36 help up Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics duriing the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 8, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics are expecting to have Kyrie Irving available against the Nets

After enduring one of the most ridiculous injury spells the league has ever seen, the Boston Celtics are finally going to get their full roster for this season. Kyrie Irving is expected to return against the Brooklyn Nets (Via Boston Herald), and Gordon Hayward, who is out for the season, is the only injury left.

The timing works out well. While the Celtics should be able to beat the Nets without Irving, it will be good for him to get a chance to get comfortable on the court again, before their biggest matchup of the season on Thursday against the Warriors.

The Celtics know they have to be full strength for that game, so if Irving is being brought back, there should be no added concerns of making things worse.

Getting Irving back also puts the Celtics in a much safer position to keep their winning streak going. The Nets should not have been much of a threat either way, but they are a fast team who plays hard, and that could have caused trouble with Irving out.

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Irving will be playing with a mask on, but we have seen some of the most exciting performances from him in a mask. including a 41 point performance against the Knicks two years ago. Against the Nets, Irving will have a great opportunity to add to that list. While the Celtics are getting their point guard back, D’Angelo Russell is expected to miss the game for the Nets.

Russell has been playing phenomenally for the Nets, and they are going to be helpless in guarding Irving now. Russell would not have done much more to slow him down, but it would have at least given them more options, and different looks they could throw at Irving.

The Celtics will not plan on needing a spectacular performance from Irving, and if everything goes well he could get some extra rest late the in game. That being said, everything feels a lot safer with Irving in the lineup, because he can bail them out of a lot of bad situations. Given how many things have happened to this Celtics team so far, they are not going to take anything for granted.

Next: Boston Celtics face trap game against Nets

The Celtics did the hard part of keeping this winning streak going while their top two players both went down with an injury, and now they get to gain even more momentum as they get to full strength against a weak opponent.

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