Does Boston have a greater stake in any of the upcoming five high-profile games?
After their win against the 76ers, Jayson Tatum discussed how crucial it is for the Celtics to maintain their focus and momentum as they secure the number one seed.
The Boston Celtics are embarking on a captivating five-game run, starting with their game against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
Despite holding an eight-game lead in the Eastern Conference and winning nine games consecutively, the Celtics do not have to prioritize gathering more victories during this period.
Our inquiry is as follows: Is there a singular game among the upcoming batch where achieving victory would provide an extra satisfaction compared to the rest?
The next five games will attract significant attention to the Celtics. Here, we’ll discuss what lies ahead and how Boston may draw extra inspiration from these matchups as they begin March.
THE CELTICS WILL HOST THE MAVERICKS ON MARCH 1.
We are only treated to the Jayson Tatum-Luka Doncic showdown twice annually, but it never fails to impress. Amidst all the talk about who will win MVP this year, Friday’s matchup presents another opportunity for Tatum to demonstrate how he contributes to winning beyond just putting points on the board.
Over the course of his previous five encounters with Doncic, Tatum has maintained an average of 31.6 points, along with 12 rebounds and 5.2 assists.
As evidence: during Boston’s victory in Dallas this past January, he recorded a remarkable performance consisting of scoring 39-points while grabbing up to eleven rebounds throughout the night.
Grant Williams’ much-anticipated comeback at TD Garden will be delayed until April 12, when Charlotte pays one of the last regular season games.
The hype around Forsberg’s meter is at a moderate 2 out of 5 stars. The Mavericks are performing strongly and require victories as they remain in the play-in zone within the competitive Western Conference.
If Doncic is fully healthy, this match will be an excellent challenge for Boston. Additionally, Kyrie Irving’s presence may pique your interest if you’re into that sort of thing.
THE CELTICS WILL BE PLAYING AGAINST THE WARRIORS ON MARCH 3rd.
Although the Warriors faced challenges this year and some people suggested dismantling the team before the trade deadline, they have triumphed in 10 out of their last 12 games. Besides, we’re talking about none other than the remarkable Warriors here!
Despite Boston’s revamped lineup, Golden State remains the unchanged squad that thwarted the Celtics on the championship stage in 2022. Following this event, Boston has a record of 1 win and 2 losses against Warriors which include two overtime nail-biters.
Forsberg rates the hype level at 4.5 stars out of five, as the Celtics prepare to demonstrate their transformation since 2022 on Sunday’s grand stage. With Kristaps Porzingis absent in their initial face-off this year, this showdown gains an extra twist.
Although the Celtics don’t necessarily need to win all their upcoming games, this particular one could leave a more satisfying feeling than any other victory in this series.
Jaylen Brown discusses ‘welcoming the challenge’ presented by his opponents’ defensive strategies.
ON MARCH 5TH, THE CELTICS WILL FACE OFF AGAINST THE CAVALIERS.
The Celtics have already established themselves as the top team in the East, with a comfortable eight-game lead over their closest rivals (Cleveland and Milwaukee shared second place before Friday’s matches).
Despite winning 17 of their last 18 games into early February, the Cavaliers haven’t made much headway in catching up to the Celtics.
While they were on fire earlier this year and making great strides, things have been bumpier lately. Despite all of this progress on paper though, it will take more than just good regular season play for them to prove themselves as a top-tier team after last year’s disappointing first-round playoff exit.
Forsberg rates the hype at three stars out of five. During a mid-December home-and-home series, the Celtics dominated over the Cavaliers in Boston on both ends.
However, now that they are healthier and rejuvenated with strong motivation to win against them this time around, there’s no telling how focused the Celtics will be as they face variousWestern Conference teams during their current stretch.
If the Celtics strive to establish their dominance in the East, this game becomes even more exciting. Additionally, one cannot miss out on the entertaining Jaylen Brown-Donovan Mitchell matchup.
ON MARCH 7, THERE WILL BE A GAME BETWEEN THE CELTICS AND NUGGETS.
Is a preamble necessary? Or should we jump straight to measuring the excitement levels? Presenting: The current champions and top contender for MVP.
Gradually, Denver is ascending towards the leading position in the West while Boston’s defeat from their initial match-up held in January still stings them.
Forsberg rates the hype for this game a perfect 5 out of 5 stars, deeming it possibly the most significant contest left on Boston’s schedule.
However, with the Milwaukee team exhibiting signs of improvement lately, one could argue that their upcoming visit later in May also holds considerable importance.
After the Denver loss, the Celtics learned to hunt for better matchups and gained several advantages.
They are expected to have high motivation in this game, especially if Tatum wants a chance at MVP recognition. This matchup could help him strengthen his case and earn greater consideration among voters.
ON MARCH 9TH, THE CELTICS WILL PLAY AGAINST THE SUNS.
Even though the first three games of their road trip may not indicate it, the Celtics’ remaining schedule in the league is comparatively straightforward. They’ll transition from playing at high altitude in Denver to competing in Arizona’s Valley of the Sun.
It seems like Tatum is in for another significant evening as Kevin Durant and childhood friend Bradley Beal (currently unable to play) are on the opposing team.
Forsberg rates the hype at 2.5 out of 5 stars for this game. The presence of several star players in Phoenix’s full-strength lineup makes it an exciting matchup to watch. It will be intriguing to see how Boston chooses to defend against a loaded Suns team, particularly concerning their Devin Booker challenge.