The Boston Celtics got a big win against the Cleveland Cavaliers today, as their victory keeps the Cavaliers at arm's length in the Eastern Conference playoff race and gets them one step closer to potentially usurping the Detroit Pistons for the No. 1 seed.
The good times kept on rolling for the Celtics even after their victory today, as the Los Angeles Lakers did them a pretty big favor by beating the New York Knicks, which creates more separation between them and the Celtics in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Now, of course, everyone knows the Lakers would never intentionally do the Celtics any favors unless said favor benefits the former primarily. Well, today was a clear-cut example of just that, as, much like the Celtics, the Lakers are vying for the best playoff position possible, so it was in their best interest to beat the Knicks regardless of what implications that had for the Celtics.
They had extra incentive, too, because the Knicks are considered among the NBA's premier teams, and the Lakers have struggled mightily against squads like them, so they had extra motivation to pull off the win.
The Celtics did the Lakers no favors this season
The Celtics and Lakers are done with their season series, as Boston swept them 2-0 despite no Jayson Tatum in either matchup. The Lakers were a little more undermanned in the first matchup (no Austin Reaves), but this Boston doesn't show mercy, especially not to their historic rivals.
The Celtics would *techically* return the favor the Lakers just did to them for some degree if they were to somehow emerge victorious against the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in their next two games, but at this stage of the season, those two teams are too far ahead of the Lakers for them to make an earnest run at a top-two seed.
But, hey, you take whatever you can get, right?
While the mere thought of helping the Lakers may disgust Celtics fans, having homecourt advantage in a potential playoff series against a team like the Knicks because of what the Lakers did today should be appreciated.
And the favors may not end there. Remember how the Celtics just one step closer to surpassing the boys over in Motown? Well, the Pistons are having some problems trying to stop Miami. If the Heat beat them, that's puts the Celtics only two-and-a-half games behind them.
The Lakers may have done the Celtics a solid today, but it seems to be going around in the NBA!