The Celtics are peaking.
With 20ish video games to go, the Jap Convention is made up of three distinct teams: the “which considered one of you guys is taking part in for second” duo (Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers), 4 groups to remain within the remaining three spots of the top-6 (New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Warmth, and Orlando Magic), and the play-in caboose (Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks).
At #2 and #3 are two groups play with a ton of dimension of their entrance court docket. A seven-game collection in opposition to the 7’1 Brook Lopez, 6’11 Giannis Antetokounmpo, and 6’7 Khris Middleton or the 6’11 Evan Mobley, 6’9 Jarrett Allen, 6’5 Max Strus must wait till the convention finals. The headline right here is avoiding the Bucks for so long as potential.
Nonetheless, Spherical 2 is the actual focus right here. At the moment, a sport and a half separates the 4th-seeded Magic and the Seventh-seeded 76ers with the Knicks and Warmth sandwiched in between. For them, there’s clearly motivation to remain out one-game randomness of the Play-In Event. For the Celtics, they are going to be scoreboard-watching down the stretch to see who they might be taking part in in a possible 1-4 matchup.
Coping with a slew of accidents to their three prime gamers, the Knicks are 3-7 of their final ten video games and don’t have definitive timetables on the returns of Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and OG Anunoby. The identical goes for Philadelphia. Who is aware of what Joel Embiid’s availability shall be and if he does return, what he’ll appear to be post-knee surgical procedure. Orlando, who’s at the moment surging on a 16-3 run, has been an issue for the Celtics over the past two years might be a taxing second spherical matchup.
After which there’s Miami. With the second best remaining schedule (behind solely Boston), there’s an excellent likelihood they’re in that 4-5 matchup in Spherical 1 with and an eye fixed to take down the highest seed once more. Or, the Warmth might even slip into the Play-In, lose and win like they did final yr, and be an 8-seed in the long run. Wherever Jimmy Butler & Co. lands, the narrative police shall be on the watch.
There’s additionally simply the popcorn-crunching leisure worth of watching the Celtics’ rivals take one another out, proper? Doc Rivers having to probably cope with Erik Spoelstra in April? I’m right here for it. Atlantic Division foes 76ers and Knicks duking it out with a primary spherical exit for the loser? Good. The Bucks and Cavs manhandling and sporting one another down? Sure, please.
Because it stands, the Celtics might ideally be taking a look at a Pacers-Magic-Bucks path to the NBA Finals. Indiana and Orlando have definitely given Boston aggressive video games this season with their various playstyles and Milwaukee is Milwaukee, however avoiding Miami, New York, and Philadelphia might show to be a godsend come Might.