House stretch: a have a look at the Celtics’ ultimate 10 video games of the common season

The Boston Celtics are coming off of maybe their finest win of the season, a 119-109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder who had been totally wholesome for the primary time all yr. It’s only one recreation, however the significance of the win can’t be overstated.

For starters, it reveals that the Celtics can sustain with one of many Western Conference favorites to achieve, and even win the Finals. Statement wins like this may go a great distance for a workforce’s confidence heading into the playoffs. Along with that, the Knicks are sizzling on Boston’s tail for the second seed, and holding off essentially the most tough remaining opponent after a disappointing loss to the Timberwolves offers the Celtics only a little bit of respiration room.

As issues at the moment stand, Boston is one recreation forward of the Knicks for the second seed, with two much less video games within the loss column. If the 2 groups had been to finish up with the identical report by the top of the common season, New York would earn the upper seed, having secured the tie-breaker by having a greater report towards groups in the identical division. The Celtics and Knicks do face off towards one another as soon as extra earlier than the season ends although, a recreation which might create the separation Boston is on the lookout for, or put New York in prime place to overhaul them.

Along with their race with the Knicks, the Celtics are additionally nonetheless technically in play for the most effective general report within the East, at the moment sitting 4.5 video games behind the Pistons. In actuality, it ought to be thought-about a 5-game hole, because the Pistons took the season collection 3 video games to 1. It’s going to be extraordinarily tough for Boston to make up that hole, however a risk nonetheless. The Cleveland Cavaliers sit 2.5 video games behind the Knicks, and 4 video games forward of the Hawks, so they could have a possibility to leap up if all goes their manner, however are in any other case possible going to finish because the 4_^th seed.

So, what ought to Celtics followers control in Boston’s ultimate 10 video games of the common season?

Well, there’s really fairly a bit to think about. Of the remaining video games, 9 of them are towards Eastern Conference opponents, the New Orleans Pelicans being the lone Western Conference competitor. Out of the eight East matchups, the Milwaukee Bucks are the one remaining opponent who appear to be on the outs for Play-In competition, sitting 9 video games behind the ten^th seed Magic.

We’ve already talked about that one of many remaining matchups is towards the Knicks, the most effective remaining workforce that Boston will face on this ultimate stretch. That nonetheless leaves 7 extra video games towards potential playoff groups: the Atlanta Hawks (x2), Charlotte Hornets (x2), Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Orlando Magic.

Those 5 groups are separated by at most 2 video games within the standings, and so they make up the 5-10 spots within the East, together with the 7^th seed Sixers which the Celtics won’t face once more this common season. Any single one in all them may very well be Boston’s eventual first-round matchup within the playoffs, and the Celtics might closely affect their final touchdown spots given the upcoming schedule.

Here’s the place every workforce stands as of right now:

5^th. Atlanta Hawks (1-1 vs Celtics, 41-32 general)

6^th. Toronto Raptors (0-3 vs Celtics, 40-32 general)

7^th. Philadelphia 76ers (2-2 vs Celtics, 40-33 general)

8^th. Orlando Magic (1-2 vs Celtics, 39-34 general)

9^th. Charlotte Hornets (1-0 vs Celtics, 39-34 general)

10^th. Miami Heat (0-3 vs Celtics, 39-34 general)

If this had been to be how the season ended, Boston as the two seed would play the winner of the 7-8 Play-In matchup, that being between Philly and Orlando. These standings are very unstable, nonetheless. With the Celtics going through the Hawks twice within the subsequent three video games, Boston profitable each might drop Atlanta down into that 7^th seed.

Similarly, Boston has two video games towards Charlotte developing. If the Hornets had been to win each, they may probably soar up the standings, once more making them a doable first spherical matchup for the Celtics assuming Boston nonetheless manages to keep up their very own spot as the two^nd seed.

With the information being so shut, each recreation issues down this stretch for practically each remaining workforce within the East. Boston has a slight benefit over the Knicks by having two much less losses. The Knicks even have some competitors of their remaining video games: the Thunder, Rockets, Hawks, Hornets (who they simply misplaced to), Raptors, and us, in fact.

Ultimately, it comes right down to the Celtics caring for their very own enterprise. Along with holding their spot within the standings, they’ll be on the lookout for Jayson Tatum to maintain constructing rhythm, whereas additionally making an attempt to combine Nikola Vucevic again into the lineup as quickly as he returns from nursing the damaged finger he suffered earlier this month. Vuc is anticipated to be again earlier than the top of the common season, although we don’t have a precise date but.

It’s necessary to notice that Boston’s final two opponents are the Pelicans and the Magic. These two video games, might see a whole lot of the starters sitting to verify they get to the playoffs as wholesome and rested as doable. Additionally, the Celtics have yet one more back-to-back, that coming in Charlotte and Atlanta on March 29^th and March 30^th. We could very properly see Jayson Tatum at minimal relaxation a type of nights, probably together with some other gamers who could also be feeling a bit banged up at this level of the season.

We did see a number of new gamers pop up on the damage report for Boston’s recreation towards Atlanta tonight. Jaylen Brown is questionable with calf tightness, Neemias Queta is questionable with a thumb sprain, and Derrick White is questionable with a bruised knee. This means Boston might probably be with out three starters in a key matchup towards a red-hot Hawks workforce.

We don’t know the severity of those accidents, and it’s doable that JB, Neemi, and Derrick are simply due for some relaxation. Regardless, whoever performs for Boston may have to have the ability to execute in the event that they wish to keep their standings, on this recreation, and each different for the remainder of the season.