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Boston Celtics Will Hold onto No. 2 Seed in Eastern Conference

By Talar Kahwajian

Dec 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens talks with Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and forward Jae Crowder (99) and guard Avery Bradley (0) during the first half against the Sacramento Kings at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens talks with Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and forward Jae Crowder (99) and guard Avery Bradley (0) during the first half against the Sacramento Kings at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Celtics will close out the season as the second best team in the east, even with pressure from their Washington foes.

Honestly, I was ready to write another article about how Boston Celtics fans need to calm the heck down.  Seriously.  Should they have beaten Phoenix? Oh definitely.  They should have beaten the Suns like they beat the Lakers.  But after that loss, it’s like the world caved in.

Really?

They had a sloppy performance with two key starters out, don’t jump to conclusions so quickly.

But I digress, it’s time to look forward, and that means the remaining schedule.  The Washington Wizards are creeping up on the Celtics, and while it’s easy to panic and assume Boston will fall to the third spot, it’s also more likely that they won’t.

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Boston has one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NBA.

But as we know the Celtics don’t like to make things easy. They meet the Chicago Bulls again on a Nationally televised game on March 12.  Then another matchup against Cleveland on April 5.  A game against the Wizards is also on the schedule, set for March 20.  All these games are at the TD Garden in Boston, which gives the Celtics no reason to lose if they’re 100% healthy.

Those three teams aside, the Boston Celtics play fringe playoff/bottom of the barrel teams the rest of the way.  I mean guys, there’s a rematch with Phoenix (which I expect the Celtics to win), Minnesota, Philadelphia, two matchups with Brooklyn, then Orlando, and New York.  If the Celtics get healthy quickly, they can win way more games than lose to close out the season.

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Mar 1, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Kyle Korver (26) and Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) battle for a loose ball during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

The Wizards have a slightly tougher schedule, with matchups against the Clippers, Warriors and Jazz all looming.  Two games against the Miami Heat, who are actually scrapping for a playoff spot.  I’d rather Boston be on their west coast trip now than be in the spot Washington will be in.  They go out west toward the end of March/early April.

Boston can beat the Clippers tonight. It’s harder without Al Horford (who I’m assuming won’t play with that sprained elbow), but Avery Bradley should be ready to go.  If Boston wins these 2 games against the Clippers and Warriors, it puts the Celtics in a great position moving forward with wins against top-tier opponents.

Next: Boston Red Sox 2017 Player Previews: Jackie Bradley, Jr.

The Celtics will close out the season strong, and with a healthy roster, they’ll see Cleveland in the Conference Finals.

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