The Celtics’ recent surge, despite their lack of healthy players, has vaulted Brad Stevens to the top of the coach of the year discussion. Boston entered Saturday riding a five-game winning streak that has been crafted despite the absences of Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, and Daniel Theis in all five, as well as Jaylen Brown, Marcus Morris, and Al Horford in others.
But Stevens, for one, is not overly concerned about the possible honor.
“Couldn’t care less,’’ he said Saturday before the Celtics beat the first-place Raptors, 110-99. “There’s 29 other great coaches, and just to be a head coach in this league is enough. It’s super hard. There’s no way I would ever consider myself to be in that race.
“[Raptors coach Dwane Casey] should be at the top of anybody’s list, and that’s the way it goes. At the end of the day the job is to coach our team, but what he’s done is special. What [Pacers coach] Nate McMillan has done is special, what multiple people around the league have done is special. Dwane’s been doing it for a long time, and this team is playing at a special level.’’
Casey, who has guided Toronto to the top Eastern Conference, was similarly deferential on Saturday.
“You’ve got Brad,’’ Casey said. “He’s done a heck of a job. Losing Gordon Hayward, who’s their free agent All-Star in the first game of the year, and you see where they are now and the job they’ve done. Losing Kyrie Irving, who’s another All-Star, and see where they are now. And win 16 in a row after [Hayward’s injury].’’
Casey also said that McMillan and Blazers coach Terry Stotts deserve to be considered.
Feeling better
Stevens said he spent quite a bit of time Friday with Irving. The All-Star point guard is recovering from the March 24 surgery to remove a tension wire from his left knee that was installed during his June 2015 surgery to repair a broken kneecap.
“Spirits were good,’’ Stevens said, “bending, extending his knee on a training table. No on-court videos, no 360 dunks. Just extending his knee on a training table.’’
Stevens said Irving has yet to resume any upper-body workouts. The Celtics have said that Irving is expected to resume basketball activities about 3-6 weeks after his surgery.
Well wishes
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said he was pleased to see forward Ray Allen voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
“Very excited for Ray,’’ Ainge said. “He’s obviously a deserving first-ballot Hall of Famer. Great, great player. Great teammate. Very, very fortunate to have worked with Ray for the five years he was here.’’
Former Celtics Dino Radja and Charlie Scott were also voted into the 13-member class that will be enshrined in Springfield, Mass., this summer.
Sick call
Horford and Morris, who missed the Celtics’ win over the Jazz on Wednesday because of sore ankles, returned to face the Raptors Saturday. Backup point guard Shane Larkin, meanwhile, missed the game because of an illness.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach @globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.
