Nine games before the break - put up or shut up time

[I love heinsohn]

With KG back, the Celtics face the following schedule:
1/25 LAC
1/28 @ORL
1/29 @ATL
1/31 LAL
2/1 @WAS
2/3 MIA
2/5 NJN
2/7 ORL
2/10 @NOH

From the list above, really only the Clippers and Nets games seem like gimmes (two wins). After that, the road game against Washington (second night of a back to back) and home game on ESPN against Wade and the Heat are also likely wins.

So if the C's take care of business in the games they should win, that leaves a pretty wide swing in terms of how they go into the break. At worst, I could see them getting swept or winning only one of the tough games on the schedule. At best, I see them winning four of five (probably losing to Atlanta or the Lakers) and really showing the championship mettle that we know this team has.

Despite how bad the team has looked the last few weeks, I think getting KG back makes a huge difference. I see them splitting against Orlando, losing to either the Lakers or Hawks while winning the rest. That would put them at 35-15 going into the All Star game and nicely positioned to get the first seed in the Eastern Conference. Does that seem possible or am I just crazy?

[canman1971]

All depends on health. If KG stays healthy, Davis continues to improve and stay on the court and everyone else pull their collective head out of their butts, then yes, it is very possible.
I don't care what people think, no team in the league could have suffered through the injuries that the Celtics have and still remained in the top two in the East. Everyone focuses on KG, but Daniels is a huge loss. Same with Davis when he went out and Pierce (5), Rondo (1), and Sheed (5) have all missed games in the same timeframe.

[BRUNiNHO91]

9-0...10 game win streak before the break..best record in the league..book it!

[SichtingLives]

I'd be content with 5-4, given the circumstances and opposition. Anything more than that is just gravy.

This team can turn it on at any point but no one knows when that will happen. It IS quite clear the impact KG has on this team just being on the court, even with limited mobility. He has the ability to turn a 5 point loss into a 5 point victory and that will show in our W-L record over time.

[Banks2Pierce]

KG being back is huge, if only for putting people into the proper spot in the depth chart that they belong. For instance, Rasheed is just not capable of playing 35 minutes in the NBA anymore. And Perk was touching the ball wayyyyy too much in KG's absence.

You also can't deny his impact on D and O. He is the Free Safety of the defense and teammates always go out of their way to mention how much his talking helps on D. You saw his impact on offense on the very first offensive play we ran last night. It was a pick and roll and Rondo was able to get right to the rim because of the beautiful screen he set and the attention that he required. The jumper is going to come around, just like it did in the beginning of the season.

I have to be honest. A win against the Lakers is enough to offset all of these recent losses from a mental standpoint.

[SichtingLives]

I have to be honest. A win against the Lakers is enough to offset all of these recent losses from a mental standpoint.

That's a good point. I think a win vs. Atlanta might be just as big. If we hadn't lost the last one so ugly, I wouldn't think so but you don't want to get swept by a conference "rival" (are we rivals yet? It feels like it) that we may have to beat 4 times in the playoffs.

[Scalamental]

That lakers game is closer than I thought, giddeeyup

[MVE85]

Marquise might come back before the ASG....it would be really nice to see the complete team together finally.

[irie]

1/25 LAC - W
1/28 @ORL - W
1/29 @ATL - L
1/31 LAL - L
2/1 @WAS - W
2/3 MIA - W
2/5 NJN - W
2/7 ORL - W
2/10 @NOH - W

7-2. Just my guess. Watch them go 2-7.

[Kefa461]

Just stay healthy and get in tune.........the rest will take care of itself.

[captain green]

1/25 LAC - W
1/28 @ORL - L
1/29 @ATL - w
1/31 LAL - L
2/1 @WAS - W
2/3 MIA - W
2/5 NJN - W
2/7 ORL - W
2/10 @NOH -L
THAT'S MY TAKE ON THIS TRIP BUT LIKE SOMEONE ELSE I'D SETTLE FOR LESS WITH AN L.A. VICTORY
waiting for my man tony from lakers board to chime in lol