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2 players that could get axed from the Boston Celtics playoff rotation

By Andrew Hughes

With the Boston Celtics having clinched a postseason spot, these 2 players need to worry about their roles being axed from the playoff rotation Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
With the Boston Celtics having clinched a postseason spot, these 2 players need to worry about their roles being axed from the playoff rotation Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Celtics clinched a playoff spot on March 18 for the ninth season in a row. While the Cs relinquished their stranglehold on the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, it’s likely Boston will end up in the No. 2 seed — barring a late-season collapse that coincides with a 76ers win streak.

The Celtics are looking to defend their east crown in a crowded field that includes a former NBA champion (Milwaukee), a team that owns postseason victories over the top three playoff seeds the past three years (Miami), and several risers (Cleveland, New York) that have had Boston’s number during the 2022-23 season.

While the Celtics are more battle-tested than any other team in the conference — with its stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, having made three trips to the conference finals together and as many trips to the finals as any other star in the east — there are several factors that figure to make this year’s postseason one with razor-thin margins.

The Bucks getting Khris Middleton back makes them the team to beat, while the Cavaliers’ problematic frontcourt and explosive backcourt could cause problems for a Celtics defense that has fallen off under Joe Mazzulla. The 76ers can’t be discounted with former MVP James Harden and likely future MVP Joel Embiid with former championship head coach Doc Rivers leading the charge either.

Mazzulla’s best bet at getting the Cs back to the Finals is getting the most out of rotations. With the number of players getting playoff minutes likely shrinking once the regular season concludes, here are 2 players who could be axed from the playoff rotation:

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