Breaking down the Celtics schedule

We’ve all seen it by now. On Thursday, the NBA launched the Boston Celtics schedule for the 2024-25 NBA season.

Joe Mazzulla’s crew will start the brand new season with out Kristaps Porzingis, who continues to rehab following surgical procedure. An official timeline hasn’t been set for his return. Nevertheless, the widespread consensus appears to be late December or early January.

Outdoors of Porzingis, the Celtics are anticipated to enter the season at full energy. Baylor Scheierman is the one new face on the primary roster. He’ll undoubtedly struggle to earn some enjoying time all through his rookie season however will face an uphill battle attempting to crack right into a championship-winning rotation.

The Celtics have favored continuity this summer season, a transfer that can doubtless pay dividends if everyone stays on the identical web page as final season.

With all that being mentioned, Boston’s probabilities of success will come all the way down to the inner growth of the roster. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum can nonetheless add wrinkles to their recreation. Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard are younger sufficient to proceed bettering. Derrick White and Jrue Vacation will probably be a stronger duo in 12 months two.

You may go down all the roster and provides explanation why the Celtics might be higher than final 12 months. I’m certain we’ll do exactly that in some unspecified time in the future within the useless of the offseason, however not immediately. Right this moment, I wish to take a look at every month of the upcoming season so we will select the important thing video games, potential traps, and underrated matchups.

October

Key Dates:

The season formally begins on October 22. Two days earlier, I might have turned 37 years younger. I all the time love how the NBA provides me an superior present by beginning the season round my birthday.

Mazzulla’s crew will play 5 video games within the opening 10 days as they get eased into issues earlier than the schedule picks up tempo. Nonetheless, matchups towards the Knicks, Bucks and Pacers will be sure that there’s no grace interval for the reigning NBA champions.

All three of these groups will come into the season believing they’ll problem for a championship. New York added Mikal Bridges this summer season, constructing on the addition of OG Anunoby final season. They are going to be one of many hardest groups within the East and could have a legit defensive identification. Beating them on opening evening received’t be simple.

I’ve nonetheless bought my questions in regards to the Bucks. Sure, they added Taurean Prince, Gary Trent Jr. and Delon Wright in the course of the summer season, however the larger questions on their roster proceed to linger. Can Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard determine it out? Can Brook Lopez proceed to anchor their protection? And can we ever see Khris Middleton bounce again to his finest?

Indiana is a enjoyable take a look at. They play quick. They play laborious. They’re younger, hungry and gifted. They usually have a rating to settle following their Jap Convention Finals loss.

In between these video games, Boston has journeys to Washington and Detroit. Each of these video games ought to finish in wins. The Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons are rebuilding groups. Boston must be recent sufficient to don’t have any concern over potential entice video games, and the journey shouldn’t be sufficient of an element right here, both.

Hardest recreation: The Milwaukee Bucks. I really feel like they’ve essentially the most to show out of those 5 groups after their second straight first-round exit final season. They’ll have this recreation circled on their calendar for certain.

November

Key dates:

November is a difficult one. The Celtics have a complete of 14 video games in 30 days, with a wonderfully even cut up of highway and residential video games. Additionally they have their NBA cup schedule sprinkled into the month, the place they’ll face the Atlanta Hawks, Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls.

In case you missed it, Tim Sheils and I shared ideas on Boston’s favorable NBA Cup schedule earlier this week.

My first main recreation of the month is the Nov. 6 matchup towards the Warriors. Positive, the Warriors’ 2022 NBA Finals win will guarantee there’s some degree of elevated depth, however in reality, it’s as a result of this would be the first time Jayson Tatum faces off towards Steve Kerr after his mistreatment throughout his time with Staff USA in Paris.

I need Tatum to have a monster evening. It doesn’t should be an explosive scoring efficiency, both…Actually, I believe I would favor a triple-double with one thing like 29 factors, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, simply to show that he’s able to a lot greater than standing within the nook.

Boston will face the Bucks for the second time on Nov. 10, and the end result of October’s recreation will doubtless set the stage.

The Nov. 19 matchup towards the Cavaliers (which can also be an NBA Cup recreation) will probably be attention-grabbing. It will likely be the primary matchup between these two groups because the Jap Convention semi-finals.

Cleveland will probably be a unique take a look at than final season as a result of arrival of Kenny Atkinson as their head coach. He’ll doubtless have them enjoying a extra offensive recreation and will unlock the backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. That matchup received’t be a stroll within the park for the Celtics.

Nevertheless, the hardest interval comes late within the month when the Celtics will face the Timberwolves and Clippers in a back-to-back on the TD Backyard.

Chris Finch’s crew is a real contender out West and can undoubtedly look to construct on their sturdy displaying final season. Anthony Edwards will probably be a stern take a look at for Vacation and White, whereas it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how Mazzulla appears to control the double-big pairing of Karl-Anthony Cities and Rudy Gobert.

Moreover, Ty Lue’s crew may even look completely different after the departure of Paul George. The Clippers have been energetic this offseason, including 5 new faces to the rotation:

Mo Bamba
Nic Batum
Kris Dunn
Derrick Jones Jr.
Kevin Porter Jr.

I’m anticipating the Clippers to be a vastly improved defensive crew. If Kawhi Leonard can keep wholesome and step right into a (much more) closely featured function on offense, Lue’s crew might be a severe risk. The Clippers’ strikes this summer season have made them a much more balanced roster.

Hardest recreation: I really feel like it is going to be towards the Clippers. The Timberwolves will probably be a tricky take a look at for Boston. Having to return again the following evening and face Lue’s roster, with some drained legs and sore muscular tissues, will probably be a giant take a look at for the Celtics.

December

Key Dates:

We additionally get a few firsts in December.

First recreation towards the Warmth.
First recreation towards the 76ers
And the primary recreation towards the Orlando Magic

All three of these matchups are attention-grabbing, and all three will probably be robust nights.

We additionally get Marcus Good’s (hopeful) return when the Memphis Grizzlies come to city on Dec. 7. I’m actually intrigued to see how a wholesome Grizzlies crew performs and the place Good matches inside that rotation.

Anyway, December begins off with a tricky week. The Celtics will go back-to-back towards the Cavaliers and Warmth on the first and 2nd. There’s some journey concerned there, too. Boston will probably be on the highway for his or her recreation towards the Cavs earlier than heading again house to face the Warmth.

A recreation towards Detroit is sandwiched between two off days earlier than one other back-to-back sees the Celtics face the Bucks for the third time and an attention-grabbing matchup towards Memphis.

That second back-to-back is adopted by a decent-sized hole, throughout which the rest of the NBA Cup will play out in Las Vegas. I’m not going to touch upon that as a result of proper now, we don’t know the way issues will play out by way of scheduling and whether or not the Celtics will probably be making that journey.

As soon as the common schedule ramps again up, Paolo Banchero could have the chance to place his cash the place his mouth is after claiming the Magic have a shot at incomes the primary seed subsequent season throughout a latest look on ESPN’s First Take.

“We really feel like we’re proper there,” Banchero mentioned. “We’re proper there with all these groups…We had been proper there final 12 months. We bought higher this 12 months. I bought higher. All of us bought higher. We bought some new items which are gonna assist us quite a bit. We’re attempting to make some noise. I believe we must always simply be a top-four, top-three crew and have an opportunity to win the East.”

After which, you’ve got the Christmas Day recreation. The marquee matchup. Two rivals go head-to-head whereas we unbutton our pants, pour out some liquor and get into our comfiest chair to look at the sport. This will probably be Boston’s first take a look at towards the new-look Sixers. Our first style of what Paul George brings to Nick Nurse’s crew and whether or not his presence goes to assist bridge the hole between the 2 sides.

I’ve been vocal about my considerations relating to the Sixers and their dedication to 2 injury-prone stars. In reality, that’s probably not our concern, however it might actually have an effect on the Celtics’ bid to repeat final season’s success.

Hardest recreation: Christmas Day. The brilliant lights will probably be shining. The world will probably be watching. And the Sixers will probably be out to show their credentials as a real championship contender. The Celtics should deliver their A-game in the event that they wish to benefit from the festivities to the fullest extent.

January

Key Dates:

Issues begin to warmth up in January. The Celtics have two separate West Coast highway swings to cope with. They begin the month with highway video games towards the Timberwolves, Rockets, Thunder and Nuggets.

Each Oklahoma and Denver will probably be attention-grabbing exams for Boston. The 2 Western Convention standouts play vastly completely different kinds of basketball however proceed to be extremely profitable.

The Thunder is a younger, hungry and well-coached crew. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a top-10 participant, is main the cost. His tempo, processing velocity and scoring versatility will probably be a tricky take a look at, particularly with Chet Holmgren spacing the ground. Fortuitously for Boston, Porzingis must be again within the rotation by this level. How game-ready he’s and the kind of influence he’ll make stay to be seen.

Denver’s offseason has been considerably perplexing. Shedding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free company was a giant blow. The actual fact the franchise has misplaced two high-level glue guys in two years has additionally raised some eyebrows. The addition of Russell Westbrook might make or break their probabilities this season.

As soon as the Celtics return to the East Coast, they’ll face the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans because the West Coast heads East. Each groups are spectacular in their very own means and are younger sufficient that inside growth might see them take one other leap.

I’m excited to see Zion Williamson towards Boston’s protection. The Kings are all the time an attention-grabbing opponent in that they’re both going to get blown out or pressure the sport proper to the wire.

Later within the month, one other monster West Coast highway will swing. The Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, and Mavericks will all be ready for the Celtics towards the top of January as Mazzulla’s crew is pressured to run a gauntlet of potential NBA Finals opponents.

In fact, the Lakers recreation is the one that ought to have us all excited. Tatum will doubtless present up for each video games in Los Angeles, and Brown’s capacity to get scorching early might be very important as we get our first style of a JJ Redick-led Purple and Gold roster.

Hardest recreation: Lakers. Everyone knows why. And none of us would need it every other means.

February

Key Dates:

Feb. 2 + 20 vs. Sixers
Feb. 6 vs. Mavericks
Feb. 8 + 23 vs. Knicks
Feb. 12 vs. San Antonio Spurs

February feels prefer it might tremendously influence the place groups end towards the highest of the East. There are two video games towards Philly, two towards New York, and two towards Cleveland. If Boston can discover a option to come by all of these unscathed, their probabilities of securing the primary seed will take a serious step ahead.

I believe the Feb. 12 recreation towards the Spurs will probably be enjoyable. Victor Wembanyama will probably be coming to city proper earlier than the All-Star break. Normally, groups start to take their foot off the fuel forward of a much-needed recharging interval. Nevertheless, if Wemby is on the courtroom, the Celtics should deliver their A-game.

By now, Porzingis must be firmly again within the rotation and up-to-speed. That matchup towards Wemby will probably be a battle of the Unicorns — a battle that Porzingis bought the higher of final season.

Dallas will probably be heading again to the TD Backyard for the primary time because the NBA Finals. The hope is that Boston provides them one other beatdown and reminds them of the way it feels to lose in entrance of the Celtics fanbase earlier than sending them on their merry means.

It’s additionally round this level within the season when the Warmth normally begins selecting up some steam. I’ve averted mentioning them till this level. Nevertheless, if Jimmy Butler and co. have began to construct some momentum, they’re not a crew you possibly can take frivolously. In fact, there are some questions in regards to the Warmth’s present roster development and whether or not they’re able to being a pressure within the East.

Nonetheless, if there’s one factor I do know, it’s that you may by no means rely out an Erik Spoelstra crew, no matter how sturdy or weak they appear on paper.

Two extra video games towards the Sixers and Knicks may even be intriguing. We’re on the level the place each groups will probably be tweaking their strategy to attempt to discover some gaps within the Celtics’ protection and determine methods to sluggish them down. Assuming Porzingis (and the remainder of the roster is wholesome) this might be the primary time New York and Philly face a full-strength Boston crew — we might be taught quite a bit in these video games.

I additionally suppose that considered one of Boston’s most pivotal stretches begins within the last week of Feb and flows into March…

Hardest recreation: Lakers. Everyone knows why. And none of us would need it every other means.

March

Key Dates:

March 2. vs. Denver
March 6. vs. Philly
March 8. vs. Lakers
March 12. vs. OKC
March 14. vs. Miami
Your entire highway swing March. 23 – 31

Shortly after the Celtics schedule was introduced on Thursday, Tim Sheils and I pinpointed March as a possible swing month. The schedule begins with some grueling video games towards elite competitors, all of whom are playoff-level groups.

There’s a slight reprieve in the midst of the month — no disrespect to Brooklyn. Earlier than heading out on the highway for the ultimate West Coast journey of the season.

The explanation I believe this might be one of the vital essential stretches for Boston is that there’s little or no room to get momentum again on monitor if the Celtics abruptly discover themselves on a dropping streak or the journey has slowed them down.

The ultimate 5 video games in March are an essential pivot level. Fortuitously, the worst highway journey is already out of the best way. However, a visit to Phoenix on March 26 will probably be attention-grabbing. The Suns have plugged their ball-handling hole this summer season, with Tyus Jones projected to be their beginning guard to start the season.

I’m curious how the Celtics will deal with enjoying towards such a high-powered offense, particularly so late within the season. Hopefully, they flip up the defensive stress and shut down Mike Budenholzer’s offensive gameplan early and infrequently.

Hardest recreation: Lakers. Everyone knows why. And none of us would need it every other means. A minimum of this time, it’s on house turf.

April

Key Dates:

April. 2 vs. Miami

April. 4 vs. PHX

April. 13 vs. Charlotte

A pleasant brief run to the end line in April will see the Celtics play 5 house video games out of seven. Miami will probably be a tricky take a look at this late within the season, particularly in the event that they’re preventing for seeding.

Phoenix at house will probably be an attention-grabbing one, too. The ultimate two video games towards Charlotte have to be approached with goal. If seeding continues to be huge open, the Celtics can’t afford to fall into any entice video games. Charles Lee could have a younger and creating crew at his disposal, and his teaching ought to guarantee they’re a troublesome out for whoever they face (assuming everyone seems to be wholesome.).

Hardest recreation: Miami at house. Spoelstra’s crew might be extremely motivated this late within the season, and that would make them a harmful opponent.

CelticsBlog graciously allowed this text to be cross-posted from my “Celtics Chronicle” publication.