RealGM

Boston has only 27 regular-season games remaining, including four back-to-backs.
The Celtics are expected to have approximately 32 days after the All-Star break to either practice or take off through the regular-season finale against Washington April 15. Boston also plays seven of its final 11 regular-season games at home.

"I'm looking forward to [the All-Star break]," said Rivers, who will watch his son Austin play in the high school basketball playoffs in Orlando, Fla. "We really haven't had a break since the Finals. We had little breaks between the draft and all the free agent workouts this summer. But this is a good break for all of us. I think we need it."

Said House, "It's big. We've had a hard, I won't even say first half, more than first half of the season. We've played a lot of games before the break. It will be good to get that rest and come back rejuvenated, replenished. Then get ready for those 27 games."

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... on/?page=2


This has been on of the toughest runs I have seen as a C fan. This break will do this squad good. We have yet to see the best ball this season.

The 55 games was tough enough by itself, but then you also add in that they had to play on the opposite coast Christmas Day as an added burden when most teams were getting a break.

Even the Celtics at the All Star game are going to get a good rest this time around with the next game being so far out.

Agreed...in terms of # of games, # of back to backs, # of roadies...we've played the absolute toughest schedule in the league...to have this record is incredible. We will round into shape in the 2nd half and dominate the league again while CLE and LAL find out what a tough schedule is really like!

Dave_From_NB wrote:The 55 games was tough enough by itself, but then you also add in that they had to play on the opposite coast Christmas Day as an added burden when most teams were getting a break.

Even the Celtics at the All Star game are going to get a good rest this time around with the next game being so far out.

One week off for Rondo and Perk could be huge.

Pierce and KG will probably go to the All Star game and then get two days of rest in California before rejoining the team in Utah. The only guys that won't get a good rest will be Doc and Ray since I bet they will be flying home in between the break and the next road trip...

February
Thu 19 @ Utah 10:30pm
Sun 22 @ Phoenix 2:30pm
Mon 23 @ Denver 9:00pm
Wed 25 @ LA Clippers 10:30pm
Fri 27 vs Indiana 7:30pm

March
Sun 01 vs Detroit 1:00pm
Wed 04 @ New Jersey 7:30pm
Fri 06 vs Cleveland 8:00pm
Sun 08 vs Orlando 1:00pm
Wed 11 @ Miami 7:30pm
Fri 13 vs Memphis 7:30pm
Sun 15 @ Milwaukee 1:00pm
Tue 17 @ Chicago 8:30pm
Wed 18 vs Miami 7:00pm
Fri 20 @ San Antonio 8:30pm
Sat 21 @ Memphis 8:00pm
Mon 23 vs LA Clippers 7:30pm
Wed 25 @ Orlando 8:00pm
Fri 27 @ Atlanta 7:30pm
Sun 29 vs Oklahoma City 7:00pm

April
Wed 01 vs Charlotte 7:30pm
Fri 03 vs Atlanta 7:30pm
Wed 08 vs New Jersey 7:30pm
Fri 10 vs Miami 7:30pm
Sun 12 @ Cleveland 3:30pm
Tue 14 @ Philadelphia 8:00pm
Wed 15 vs Washington 8:00pm

The Celtic's had a very tough first half of the season and I remember on several occansions the C's had a lot of tough road trips, back to backs, etc. Its obvious the remainder of the games will be a lot easier on the C's, which is good because we could use some rest for the big three. The absensce of a bench hurt us at times during the first half, and I think its going to be an issue in the later rounds of the playoffs. But hopefully with a lot of rest going into the playoffs the starters minutes can be extended and we can get away with it, because right now it looks like Ainge isn't going to make any kind of trade.

^Good points. I think CLE and LAL will come back down to earth, too...they aren't THAT much better (although they are both damn good)...should be a fun finish to the season!

It is going to suck as a fan though, I've enjoyed the almost constant Celtics basketball. Particularly as we have still been winning at a championship level.

Days off are going to feel empty..until Pierce is lifting another trophy

3pt % wrote:It is going to suck as a fan though, I've enjoyed the almost constant Celtics basketball. Particularly as we have still been winning at a championship level.

Days off are going to feel empty..until Pierce is lifting another trophy

what are we going to do w/o the constant Celtics basketball? This could be a downright boring rest of the season.

This week off is killing me...Thursday night cannot come fast enough!

MyInsatiableOne wrote:^Good points. I think CLE and LAL will come back down to earth, too...they aren't THAT much better (although they are both damn good)...should be a fun finish to the season!

Agreed, both LAL and ClE will fall back to Earth. They are really the only two other teams I worry about, I suppose we should worry about the Cavs first, b/c we have to get through the ECF in order ot get to the Lakers in the finals. I think LeBron's, excuse me Cavs won't have what it takes to beat the C's in the ECF, its my gut feeling, its gonna go 7 games, and home court will play a huge advantage.

^^I wouldn't underestimate the refs helping LeBron out in the playoffs....

MyInsatiableOne wrote:Agreed...in terms of # of games, # of back to backs, # of roadies...we've played the absolute toughest schedule in the league...to have this record is incredible. We will round into shape in the 2nd half and dominate the league again while CLE and LAL find out what a tough schedule is really like!

Yep. We sure did find out going 6-0 on the East Coast roadie.

NES 247 wrote:

MyInsatiableOne wrote:^Good points. I think CLE and LAL will come back down to earth, too...they aren't THAT much better (although they are both damn good)...should be a fun finish to the season!

Agreed, both LAL and ClE will fall back to Earth. They are really the only two other teams I worry about, I suppose we should worry about the Cavs first, b/c we have to get through the ECF in order ot get to the Lakers in the finals. I think LeBron's, excuse me Cavs won't have what it takes to beat the C's in the ECF, its my gut feeling, its gonna go 7 games, and home court will play a huge advantage.

I've been saying that all year. Cleveland drop off is too big once LeBron goes to the bench. You guys will beat them. But it is smart to worry about your own conference 1st

MyInsatiableOne wrote:Agreed...in terms of # of games, # of back to backs, # of roadies...we've played the absolute toughest schedule in the league...to have this record is incredible. We will round into shape in the 2nd half and dominate the league again while CLE and LAL find out what a tough schedule is really like!

Didn't boston go 2-7 on they westcoast roadie and the lakers went 6-0 on they eastcoast roadie.

Having that amount of days for practice is a huge bonus, especially if we are bringing someone else into the team

My wife is loving our TV now and I told her, she will get it more often now. not as many games

As of today 19 feb the difference between the Lakers and the Celtics in terms of games played is 1 game..

So much for the lopsided schedule.. At the end of the day it is how the team plays that matters and good teams find ways to win in spite of who, where and when they play.

To be fair, it was 8 on 5 when the Lakers came to Boston...well 8 on 4, since they fouled KG out.

[quote="kevin_405"]As of today 19 feb the difference between the Lakers and the Celtics in terms of games played is 1 game..

So much for the lopsided schedule.. At the end of the day it is how the team plays that matters and good teams find ways to win in spite of who, where and when they play.[/quote]

However it evened up because our schedule let up a bit in January...from Nov through mid-Jab we were ball-to-the-wall busy, schedule-wise...