Boston Celtics Round Table: Can Marcus Smart Make All-Defense? (mailbag)

What will the Boston Celtics record be at the beginning of 2019?                     – Michael Y.

Thomas: 22-14.

That’s a 11-4 record from now until New Year’s. We’ve noted the Celtics easy schedule over the next nine games, but the last three road games of the year are: at Houston, at Memphis, at San Antonio. Boston will be lucky to win two of those games.

Christopher: 23-13.

I expect the Celtics to get on a little bit of a run as they approach the new year. I think they will go 12-3 over the final 15 games remaining before January 1st, as many of these matchups seem to be very winnable games. Over the next 9 games, the Celtics only play one playoff team. I think the Celtics will find a groove and finally begin to do the little things that contribute to winning basketball. They have to at some point, right?

Petey: 23-13.

I am going to go the optimistic route here. I think the Celtics are going win their next seven games, mostly against weak opposition. I think the Celtics will finally put it together and hit their stride down the stretch of 2018. I predict the stubbornness, grit, and passion that defined last year’s team to return in full force, fueling a 12-3 record over the last 15 games of 2018. Please forget this prediction ever happened if the Celtics are still disappointingly right around .500 to start the new year.