The Celtics have a deal with popping out of All-Star break: a four-game west coast swing that features video games on the Warriors, Lakers, Suns and Nuggets and a back-to-back.
Boston is ready to face 4 groups that if the playoffs began right now, would all be collaborating.
All of them current completely different points. The Warriors might be with out Stephen Curry, however groups with out their greatest participant are at all times powerful to play as a result of you aren’t at all times certain what to organize for. The Lakers have a dynamic offense that we have now not seen plenty of however Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves all current plenty of points for any protection. Phoenix is among the hardest groups within the NBA and has discovered methods to win video games all season. Lastly, Denver has plenty of accidents however they preserve successful ball video games and so they have the dynamic Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray decide and roll which at all times provides the Celtics issues.
The Warriors and Lakers have some uncertainty round them.
As talked about, Stephen Curry won’t play on this recreation for Golden State because of a knee harm. One other man who’s on the harm report is former Celtics massive man Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired by the Warriors on the deadline and has but to play for the group. It’s unclear whether or not or not he’ll play within the recreation however I’m excited to see how Golden State will incorporate him into their lineup when he’s again on the ground. It’s his and Al Horford’s first recreation in opposition to their former group so there might be plenty of hugs postgame, I’m certain.
For the Lakers, we simply haven’t seen plenty of Doncic, James and Reaves this season with all three gamers lacking time at completely different instances. The trio has performed simply 152 minutes collectively this season. In fact, they will rating however the Lakers can’t get a cease with these three guys on the ground, giving up 119.7 factors per 100 possessions within the restricted pattern. How a lot will Lakers coach JJ Redick stagger them with having one or two of them on the bench?
The Phoenix Suns are one of the surprising storylines within the NBA this season and when push involves shove, they simply win ball video games. 32-23 on the season, the Suns are at present seventh within the Western Convention. If the Suns are among the many most surprising tales within the NBA, Dillon Brooks is among the many most stunning. He’s nonetheless getting plenty of technical fouls however he has been the Suns 2nd greatest participant this season. After being advised he wouldn’t be introduced again to the Grizzlies “underneath any circumstance” to see Brooks flourish with now his third group is nice. Phoenix is a tricky group that may give Boston their greatest recreation.
Lastly, Boston heads to Denver on the 2nd leg of a again to again. This might be a tricky one. Within the altitude after touring in late from taking part in the evening earlier than. The Celtics will face an uphill battle on this recreation. They gained’t use that as an excuse, Joe Mazzulla groups are nice on 2nd nights of again to backs, Boston is 36-13 in these cases for the reason that 2022-23 season. Denver’s protection has been iffy to say the least. They offer up plenty of pictures on the rim and the Celtics don’t take many pictures on the rim so it will likely be fascinating to see if the C’s try to exploit that weak spot.
West coast street journeys are onerous and even tougher if you play 4 good groups in a single journey. That doesn’t imply Boston is just not up for the problem. The purpose, in fact, is 4-0 however a 3-1 journey is one thing I’d join proper now. It is going to be enjoyable to see how the Celtics reply to this problem popping out of the All-Star break.
