I LOVE That The Celtics Are Starting Their Season With The Bucks/Nets
Pool. Getty Images.
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I may be alone in this line of thinking, but I love how the Celts are starting this season. You want to be the best you have to beat the best. Anyone who doesn't love this early challenge is just being scared of the competition. Kicking things off against the Bucks, a team that has been historic each of the last two seasons only to underachieve in the playoffs but also a team that has owned the Celtics recently is the exact challenge I want. This isn't all that uncommon if you look at recent history either. In 2017-18 they played MIL on October 18th, in 2018-19 it was November 1st, and then last year it was October 30th. The Celts have won 2 of those three. In all of their matchups in recent history, things have been close. In the last 6, a team won by more than 7 points just twice. These two seem to battle it out every year.
The one thing we can admit is the Celts have shown no ability to be able to slow down Giannis. The idea of Semi being someone who can slow down Giannis is sort of a thing of the past. We all know what Khris Middleton does to this team, he turns into Jordan and then some. But this is a new version for both sides obviously. Now the Bucks have Jrue Holiday and the Celts are without Gordon Hayward. They'll also be missing Kemba/Romeo. I don't care. I want to see how they match up against a team many think will be the top team of the East. Healthy, injured, whatever. Doesn't matter to me.
Then we roll right into the Nets. Sure it sucks that there won't be fans in the stands for Kyrie's return (he's not missing this game), but aside from that, this is another great early test. The latest team getting a ton of offseason love and yet another team projected to be better than the Celts, well let's see it. I want to see how they stack up, even if they are without their All Star point guard.
To me, as constructed the Celtics have enough talent to win these games if they play to their potential, even without Kemba. If the Jays are going to take another leap to become the players we need them to be, these are the types of tests I want them to take. It's also a test for Brad which I think is important. Can he avoid all the bullshit and lack of an offensive gameplan we saw in the bubble? We wouldn't learn anything about this team if they had easy games to start the season. Playing the best teams is something I will always prefer, win or lose.
Now of course, we should all prepare for both outcomes. If the Celts lose these games, you know the narrative. Their season will be over, Ainge fucked everything up, they will be a 6 seed, etc etc. The same exact shit that happened after they lost last year to the Sixers in the opener. Everyone was quick to bury the Celts and crown the Sixers and well….how did that turn out.
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The opposite is also true. If they win both? Oh yeah, it's time to inject the Kool Aid right into my goddamn veins. As far as I can tell this is basically a win/win situation. If they lose, whatever, they didn't have one of their best players. If they win, they are undeniably the better team. Boy does it feel great to have that spinzone back in my life.
When you combine the PHI/BKN preseason games with the way they are starting the season, I don't know how you could ask for anything better as a Celtics fan. They choked last season and blew a great opportunity at the Finals. Now they have a chance to come back and make a statement right away.
Let's fucking GO.