What to expect during the Boston Celtics brutal All-Star Game sprint

The Boston Celtics have embarked on an absolutely brutal six-week stretch that will most likely make or break their season. Here’s what to expect:

After our relatively forgiving pre-Christmas portion of the schedule–that had a healthy mix of softball match-ups and plenty days off–the Boston Celtics are in the midst of perhaps one of the most difficult schedule slogs in recent memory.

Over the course of a 41 day period, between January 3rd and February 13th, the team plays a whopping 23 games. This includes 3 back-to-backs and not a single two days of consecutive rest. Between January 8th and 16th, they’ll play 6 games in 9 days.

Boston has matchups against the Bucks, Lakers, Heat, Rockets, and Clippers; 5 of the 8 best teams in the NBA. Not to mention the rival Philadelphia 76ers twice, who despite under-performing thus far have proved to be the Boston Celtics Achilles heel.

Fortunately for the C’s, there are plenty of bottom-dwelling teams on the schedule that will blunt the possibility of total ruin, including Atlanta three times and New Orleans twice.

Even still, there are no sure things in the NBA. Even though those games should be wins on paper, the schedule itself will add a new dimension of difficulty to those contests.  Beating bad teams is a hallmark of a good team, and those wins will become critical to securing favorable seeding in what is emerging as a cutthroat Eastern Conference race for the 2nd seed.

The Bucks are sitting quite comfortably with the NBA’s best record and own a nice seven game cushion between them and the second place Celtics, who are currently jockeying with the Heat, Raptors, Sixers, and Pacers for that coveted #2 seed.

That seed guarantees that whoever finishes there will avoid the powerhouse Bucks until the Eastern Conference finals, making for a slightly easier path through the playoffs.

And, falling right in the middle of this slog, is the trade deadline, which is on February 6th. It is not wise to think Danny Ainge is content to sit on his laurels with this team, and the next three weeks will see the NBA hot stove begin to heat up with rumors. A move big or small will surely throw a wrench in all of this.

For Boston Celtics fans this schedule is great news. Plenty of Celtics action against some of the best teams the NBA has to offer will soon be enjoyed. Many surely remember the inexplicable six-day rest period in mid-December where many fans suffered from acute Celtics withdrawal syndrome, myself included. There will be none of that for the next few weeks.

But for the team, this stretch will be perhaps make-or-break the season. To say this is going to be a battle for a team that has struggled to stay healthy is an understatement. Fortunately, the Hospital Celtics are about as healthy right now as they have been all season (knock on wood.)

Only Robert Williams remains out for an extended period, with a hip injury that will see him out at least until the middle of January, if not later.

During this stretch they are going to rely heavily on the depth they have worked so hard to cultivate. Inevitably, guys like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker–who have been absolute workhorses thus far–are going to need a night or two off.

Players who have not seen consistent minutes will be forced to step into larger roles out of necessity, and I can foresee an uptick in minutes for guys like Romeo Langford, Semi Ojeleye, and Javonte Green.

I also anticipate healthy doses of Tacko Fall and Tremont Waters, who have accrued only 4 and 5 days respectively towards their 45-day quota on two-way contracts thus far. Perhaps management has been saving their two-way time for this exact stretch, where it’s going to be an all hands on deck type of situation.

Fortunately, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, with a well deserved 8 day break for All Star festivities… that will lead into a 4 game west coast road trip over the course of 6 days. I suppose there really is no rest for the wicked.