Why the Boston Celtics need the 25-day window before play resumes

The Boston Celtics are uniquely positioned as a team that would benefit from the NBA imposing a 25-day window before play is resumed.

Today was supposed to be the first day of the NBA Playoffs. The Boston Celtics were likely looking at a #3-#6 matchup with either the Philadelphia 76ers or the Indiana Pacers, two teams the C’s eliminated in the past two playoff runs.

Instead of wondering how the undersized Celtics front-line would deal with either of the jumbo lineups Philadelphia and Indiana boasts, the focus is instead on staying safe and inside to avoid feeling the effects of a deadly global pandemic.

Oh how nice it would be to just be watching basketball.

In the wake of the season’s suspension, we have had a few NBA-related distractions such as the NBA 2K Player’s Only tournament won by Devin Booker and the recent H.O.R.S.E. competition that saw Mike Conley ultimately be determined the champion.

That said, the focus is still on when we can resume the 2019-20 NBA season. Before games will be played again, one current plan has the league creating a 25-day window before play resumes:

"Under the plan, players would go through an 11-day stretch of individual workouts in which they could maintain some measure of social distancing while ramping up training and activity. Then, if permitted by medical officials, the idea would be to allow for a two-week training camp with entire teams participating."

Such a time period would be particularly beneficial for the Boston Celtics. The reason?

Apparently some star players haven’t touched a basketball since the season was shut down. Among them are All-Star Jayson Tatum and max-contract earner Gordon Hayward.

Tatum, to his credit, realizes there are bigger things going on in the world. In a phone interview, he told ESPN that he is spending time with his son and enjoying the little things in life:

"“I’ve been taking time to relax and be at home with my son every day,” he said in a phone interview. “I am trying to enjoy this time and the things we usually take for granted.”“I got weights and bands and a bike to do some cardio…It’s tough, but on the other side, I know there are more important things going on in the world.”"

Tatum isn’t alone in not hooping during this extended lock-down. Hayward is also living without the luxury of a basketball hoop, though he attributes that to the cold Indiana weather:

"“(It was) super cold, I also didn’t know how long this thing was going to last, so I just was like, ‘No, we don’t need to get a hoop,'” Hayward said. “But maybe depending how long this thing lasts, and hopefully the weather gets nicer, we could maybe take advantage of that.”"

So that’s two Boston Celtics stars who aren’t refining their games as the ongoing pandemic keeps us all stationary in our homes. Who knows what other C’s are in the same position.

We don’t know when the NBA season will resume, but we do know that the league’s proposed 25-day window before the season resumes will be sorely needed for the Boston Celtics…and probably other teams as well.