Guess who has the easiest schedule in the league?

I’m not quite sure how ESPN Insider came up with its new ranking of team schedules (lots of acronyms , a baseline forecast and simulations) but it favors the Celtics. Yup, your team has the easiest schedule in the NBA:

30. Boston Celtics (3.34 extra wins)

The Celtics get plenty of the Knicks, Nets and Sixers. Seven of their 17 back-to-backs finish in Boston. They have 17 long-rest games and their 25 games with a rest advantage ranks third. It all adds up.

My favorite part of that blurb is the inclusion of the “super team” Knicks with the Nets and Sixers. The win projections I’ve seen prior to the release of the schedule have the Celtics in the low 50s. A bit low by my estimation but realistic.

Does the analysis of the schedule mean the Cs can win 55 games?

60 games? (Gasp!)

But wait, there’s more:

1. Brooklyn Nets (5.32 extra losses)

The Nets are early in their rebuild and the schedule does them no favors. They are tied for the fewest games with two or three days of rest (13) and while they play just 14 back-to-backs, only four of those have the back end at the Barclays Center.

Eastern Conference Finals and the 1st pick in the draft. Giddyup.