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Boston Celtics: Should we be talking about the number 1 seed?

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 31: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during a game against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden on March 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 31: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during a game against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden on March 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics have somehow made the number one seed a conversation again

The Boston Celtics are on what feels like an impossible streak, winning six straight, including victories over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors. They have done this with Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart and Daniel Theis done for the regular season, Jaylen Brown missed some time, and Al Horford and Marcus Morris were in and out of the lineup. Even Shane Larkin had his turn on the sidelines.

The Celtics were decimated by injuries at a time when the Raptors were surging, and it felt like that number one seed was completely wrapped up. Everyone thought that the Celtics and Raptors were stuck in their spot in the standings, but this streak has left them two games behind with one more head to head game.

It will still be hard, but the number one seed is no longer irrelevant. The weird part is that the Celtics would likely have to win all of their remaining games, and obviously the Raptors one is essential.

At this point, time is a bigger obstacle than the injuries. Even if the Celtics continue to play this well despite the injuries, they still do not control their destiny and they need the Raptors to drop that additional game on top of their head to head, while the Celtics do not give in anything.

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Just the fact that the number one seed is a conversation again is a remarkable feat, and it is actually quite similar to how the Celtics took advantage of a late run to get the number one seed form the Cavaliers.

Last year, it made no difference, but this year it is a completely different conversation. The odd part is that the number one seed could actually hurt the Celtics. If getting home court throughout means playing the Cavaliers earlier, because they have dropped in the standings, then it will not be worth it.

The Celtics are going to have home court against the Cavaliers no matter what, and home court against the Raptors is not important enough if it means having to play the Cavaliers early.

The problem is we still cannot predict that. The Celtics need to focus on themselves, and have to accept wherever LeBron James lands, because it is too close to call right now.

This active Celtics core is playing with a certain kind of special edge that certainly has them believing that they will be getting that top seed. The Raptors have opened the door, and you know everyone cannot wait for that final regular season meeting, even if it changes nothing in the standings.

The Celtics have a lot of work to do in order to maintain the way they have been playing, but if they do not, the number one seed is within their reach. It would completely wrap up coach of the year for Brad Stevens, and put the Celtics in a much stronger position than anyone thought possible.

On top of that, continuing this streak will show the NBA that they are not going to be pushovers without Irving and Smart in the first round. These young players are coming together in a way that has allowed them to compete with some of the top teams in the league.

Next: Celtics Need Continuity for Playoffs

The playoffs will be a different story, but this is still a team that  opponents are not sure how to handle. They want to keep this up for the momentum in the first round, and it would be devastating to the Raptors if this run changed that number one seed.

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