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Boston Celtics: Al Horford Back on Injury Report

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 26: Marcus Morris #13 and Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics embrace during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden on February 26, 2018 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. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 26: Marcus Morris #13 and Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics embrace during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Garden on February 26, 2018 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. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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Al Horford is the next to get hurt, as he is missing the game against the Jazz with an ankle injury

Just after the Boston Celtics revealed that Marcus Morris was going to miss another game with his ankle injury, they announced that Al Horford would also be missing the game against the Utah Jazz.

With Rudy Gobert on the other side, this was not an ideal time to lost their top two front court players. The Celtics have been decimated by injuries beyond belief, and they just keep on coming.

The Celtics are putting everything in the hands of the youngest players on the team, and Guerschon Yabusele, who has been starting for the Maine Red Claws most of this season, has to figure out how to deal with one of the most intimidating front court presences in the NBA.

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The Celtics could not be in a worse position with injuries right now, but it is still not time to panic quite yet, at least not about these recent injuries. The Celtics are not moving anywhere in the standings, and really need to focus on the first round.

They know that Marcus Smart and Kyrie Irving will not be there, so they know it will be impossible to win without Horford. Even if there is no risk of this being serious, it would not be too cautious to keep Horford on the bench until the playoffs.

If this ankle injury is going to linger the way Morris’ has, then the Celtics have to be as cautious as possible, and hope that there will be nothing that lingers until playoff time. The Celtics want to keep winning games right now, but these games cannot be taken into consideration while evaluating when Horford should return.

The Celtics really do not have a front court left, and things could get really ugly as long as he is out. Nevertheless, the Celtics will have to figure out how to deal with that, because ugliness right now will not have any long term implications.

Next: Ranking potential first round games

If things get ugly in the first round, when the Celtics are going to have a difficult matchup, then the season comes into question. The Celtics want to make sure that Irving and Smart get another chance to play this season, and Horford needs to be at 100 percent if he is going to lead them there.

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