Boston Celtics: Hornets, Pacers, Wizards – Who should Cs want to face?

Why the Boston Celtics should want to face Indiana

Without Myles Turner, the Indiana Pacers are more exploitable downlow. The longtime Cs frontcourt target eyed incessantly by Hardwood Houdini doesn’t sound likely to return this season, per the Indy Star:

"Myles Turner’s toe injury could end his season, Dr. Jan Szatkowski, an orthopedic foot and ankle trauma doctor at IU health said. Turner has been ruled out indefinitely due to a partial tear of the plantar plate in the big toe of his right foot, the Pacers said in a news release. Szatkowski, who has not examined Turner, said it’s an injury that typically requires surgery and the average recovery time is six months."

No offense to admirable fill-in Oshae Brissett, who has provided 12 blocks during a three-game stretch against Brooklyn, Portland, and Oklahoma City two weeks ago, but the Pacers are a far more palatable opponent without Turner in the lineup.

Why the Boston Celtics shouldn’t want to face Indiana

Domantis Sabonis is perhaps the most dangerous big man the Celtics could potentially face in the postseason play-in tournament. In the midst of a career-year, Sabonis is a scoring threat that should still make Cs fans want to avoid Indiana in either play-in.

With the center position still being seen as the biggest weakness in the lineup, playing a team lacking a big that can do damage in the paint and beyond the arc is preferable.