With this winter storm crushing half the country and NBA travel either delayed or cancelled this weekend, the Celtics return home for what could be another regular season-defining stretch of games. Here’s play-by-play announcer Sean Grande with the details:
With the NBA trade deadline (February 8th) and All-Star Weekend (February 13-15th) on the horizon, the Celtics will play seven of their next nine games at TD Garden:
Not exactly a murderer’s row with the road back-to-back, but nothing can be taken for granted. It’s not as if Boston has exactly taken care of business recently. In what was supposed to be the easiest month of the Celtics’ schedule, they’re a respectable 8-5 so far, but it sure feels like they’ve left some games on the table.
They’ve been playing .500 ball over their last ten with the losses to the Nuggets, Spurs, Pistons, Detroit, and Chicago totaling just 15 points. Boston could easily be knocking on Detroit’s door for #1 and now, only five games separate the Celtics from the #2 seed and the Play-In Tournament.
With that in mind — at least narrative-wise — an 8-1 or 7-2 run could go a long way in solidifying this roster as true contenders. Most likely though, Brad Stevens knows what they have and no record will change how he approaches the trade deadline or Jayson Tatum’s return.
Still, decisions loom about setting the Celtics up best for the long term, Boston is still relatively high above the tax, and the team could use another consistent rotation player especially if Tatum can’t return this season. Brad Stevens, Bill Chisholm and company at least owe it to this group to stand pat and allow this team to play out the year.
There will always be trade rumors, especially for teams at the top of the conference, so expect to hear more about the Celtics trying to cut more salary and reduce their tax burden, finding front court help, using Anfernee Simons $27 million expiring contract as a trade chip, etc. This is the NBA nonetheless and the NBA loves rumor season.
The reality is the Celtics could enter All-Star Weekend with Jaylen Brown repping the team as a starter and Jayson Tatum nearing a return. And regardless of how they finish their next nine games, their last forty-five have proof positive that Joe Mazzulla is one of the league’s best coaches and his staff, the front office has a keen eye for finding players that fit their culture and system, and to a man, each of them has grabbed this opportunity and ran with it.
