Playoffs Push: Why the next 3 games are massively important

Amazingly, it is mid-March and we’re talking about a potential push not only into the playoffs, but potentially the 7th seed. Granted, this push would mean the Celtics face either the juggernaut Hawks or the LeBron James family funtime jamboree band. Neither is an appetizing scenario, but the experience of facing those teams in a playoff situation could help a young team really know what it means to be great in the NBA.

As it stands now, the Celtics are 1.5 games out of the 8th seed, and 2 games out of 7th. Here’s a look:

These teams have 18 or 19 games left in the season. That’s not a lot of time to make a run. But if the Celtics are going to grab hold of one of those spots, NOW is the time, because Now is when the schedule gives them a good shot. Here’s a quick look at what each team has coming up:

Indiana:  Boston, Toronto, @Chicago

Miami:  Brooklyn, @Toronto, Cleveland

Charlotte:  Chicago, @Utah, @LA Clippers (back to back)

Boston: Orlando, @Indiana (back to back), Philadelphia

The Celtic have an opportunity over the next week to gain a full game on Indiana with a win. It won’t be easy on the back-end of a back-to-back, especially a home/road back-to-back. But, the Celtics have also won 6 of their last 7 of 2nd night back-to-backs. So it’s not impossible. Orlando is a very winnable game, and Philly should be a win.

Meanwhile, we’re all going to Raptors and Bulls fans this week as each of those teams can really help the Celtics cause by beating Indiana, Miami, and Charlotte.

In face, the Hornets stand a real chance of going 0-3. Al Jefferson just suffered a strained calf, so he might miss time. Even if he plays, he won’t be 100% as he goes against very big front lines in this stretch.

So let’s play this out. Let’s say the Celtics can go 3-0 and put a run together (which is possible). Let’s say the Hornets drop 3 (which is looking pretty likely, actually). And let’s give Miami and Indy 1 win over the next 3 games. This is what it’d look like.

A win over Indiana in this scenario would give the Celtics a 2-1 series lead, so they’d hold a tiebreaker at this point. Miami would still be in the mix, and Charlotte would be fading fast with a lot of ground to make up in even shorter time.  The Celtics also have another game against the Pacers, as well as games against Miami and Charlotte which, obviously, will be pivotal. They also have a bunch of tough games (OKC, San Antonio, Clippers, Cleveland twice) that could drop them back out of contention.

So that makes this stretch all that much more important, because it’s obviously better to have THEM chasing YOU.

The next 3 games could make or break this run. If the Celtics can go on this streak and jump into the 7th seed, it’s going to be a dogfight until the end. But if the Celtics miss this opportunity, they might not get another one because time could run out.