Kyrie Irving. (Harry How/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Short of signing someone in the buyout market or All-Star Gordon Hayward returning from what's perceived to be a season-ending leg injury, the Celtics are who they are--and who they are is awfully good.
They're 40-and-19, and two games behind the Raptors in the East.
But they're struggling with a 6-and-9 record since their trip to London.
You might think players would be happy to reach the All-Star Break to enjoy a week off and take a deep breath, but C's All-Star starter Kyrie Irving has tunnel vision for the playoffs.
"This is not really a break for me," he said. "Teams are trying to sneak into the playoffs in all positions, and teams are starting to shape into what they want to be going into the playoffs. That's where my focus is. Obviously the last month we've had some slippage, but my focus is how to get the group to be better."
As Irving said, just 23 games to go in the regular season. Boston will next play a week from tomorrow in Detroit.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports