Whether because of injuries or

[99bottles]

Whether because of injuries or the Heat's stiff defense, the Celtics never got untracked.

I found that sentence here...
https://ludwig.guru/s/whether+because+of

Does that structure mean that the Celtics played poorly, and we don't know why, but the two possible reasons are their injured players and the opposing team's stiff defense?

 

[jutfrank]

That's right, yes.

 

[99bottles]

That's right, yes.

Thanks. Would it be the same if we replaced whether with either?

 

[Tarheel]

No, and I think the writer has it narrowed down to those two things.