The Boston Celtics seamlessly picked up where they left off prior to the All-Star break, playing like the best team in the NBA. In doing so, the Celtics have won 18 of their last 23 games, making them one of the most consistent squads entering the final stretch of the regular season.
There’s still a lingering question that Boston hasn’t been able to answer yet, though – have they become elite enough to keep up with some of the powerhouse teams in the East? Nevertheless, we’re going to find out for sure throughout the month of March with stronger competition ahead.
The Boston Celtics have figured it out and are peaking at the perfect time as the NBA playoffs near
When taking a look at the remaining 22 games, the Celtics have a tough stretch approaching in March. It’s worth mentioning that they do not play games back-to-back until the end of the month, however.
The first week has them facing off against the Hawks, Grizzlies, Nets, and the Hornets. All of those games could be considered a toss-up depending on how the Celtics play. I truly believe Boston can be unstoppable if Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown produce 50 points combined in this final stretch.
The second week of March is where things start to get intense for the Celtics. They will start by playing the hard-nosed Pistons, followed by the Mavericks, Warriors, Kings, and Nuggets. This stretch of four games will be the most challenging for Boston to get through.
It will also be the most telling stretch of games to see how well the Celtics can hang with some of the best teams in the league. Statistically, they have been the best team in the NBA in certain metrics.
The Celtics are for real. pic.twitter.com/TU6jqXwoT3
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 25, 2022
The final five games of March will be interesting, as they will most definitely impact playoff seeding in the extremely tight Eastern Conference. Boston will play the Thunder, Jazz, Timberwolves, Raptors, and the Heat.
April consists of five games, mostly played within a week, to conclude the regular season for the Celtics. Four straight games against teams in the Eastern Conference – the Pacers, Wizards, Bulls, and the Bucks. The outcomes of all those games will matter for Boston.
Finally, the Celtics finish their season playing against the Grizzlies, which again, won’t be a walk in the park with the playoffs just around the corner at that point.
The Boston Celtics have climbed the ladder in the Eastern Conference, becoming the most consistent team in the league. The team involvement, ball movement, and hustle have been great. Even the coaching by Ime Udoka has been great during this run.
The games against Eastern Conference opponents are the ones I feel are going to be the most challenging to get through if the Celtics want to get where they want to be.
In the end, the C’s are poised enough to hold their own in the playoffs, despite where the seeding lands them. Every win truly counts from here on out and that means taking care of business against teams like the Pistons and the Thunder.