Kyrie Irving Will 'Definitely' Sit 'Some' Celtics Games Before 2019 NBA Playoffs

With the Boston Celtics all but assured a playoff spot, Kyrie Irving is going to be smart about how much he plays down the stretch. 

Per The Athletic's Jay King, Irving addressed his plan for the final three weeks of the regular season.

"I'm definitely taking some games off before the playoffs," Irving said. "It just makes no sense to put emphasis on these regular-season games when you know you're gearing up for some battles coming in the playoffs."

There are practical reasons for Irving to slow things down before picking himself back up again for the postseason. His 2017-18 season came to a premature end after undergoing two surgical procedures on his left leg and knee just before the start of the playoffs. 

Irving has been banged up at various points this season, sitting out 12 of Boston's 71 games thus far. The six-time All-Star leads the team with 23.7 points and 7.1 assists per game and is shooting 40.8 percent from three-point range in 2018-19. 

The Celtics (43-28) are currently the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. They are just one-half game behind the Indiana Pacers for home-court advantage in the first round and three games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the three seed. 

Boston will close the regular season on April 9 against the Washington Wizards.