Celtics' bizarre season opener could be a golden opportunity

So the NBA is beginning to roll out its schedule for the 2026-27 season, including some of the biggest slates of the year (opening night, Christmas, etc.) and other notable games. Usually, the reigning NBA champions get the first game of the season, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

In a decision that's almost certainly going to divide the fanbase, the Boston Celtics are actually set to begin the season on the road against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, Oct. 20... at 3 PM ET.

Why is this happening? I have no idea, and I imagine 99% of the population would say the same.

On one hand, it's great for Celtics fans that the team doesn't have to wait long (relatively speaking) to get a glimpse of what their first season without Jaylen Brown in over a decade will look like. But at the same time, 3 PM is a wild start time. The average fan is going to be at work without access to the game, and this is just odd all the way through.

Regardless, this will still be a great opportunity for Boston to send a message that the team shouldn't be counted out next season... even if only a fraction of fans will be able to see it play out entirely.

The Celtics can send a huge message against the Pistons

Both teams look different than they did when they did last season (Celtics added Paul George and Mitchell Robinson, lost Brown -- Pistons added John Collins, Isaiah Joe, and Ebuka Okorie, lost Isaiah Stewart, Tobias Harris, and they may lose Jalen Duren), but they were still the top two seeds in the East just months ago.

In Boston's case especially, so many fans and critics are already counting them out. They just lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the playoffs (even after having a 3-1 lead as the higher seed) before also gifting them Brown in the offseason. And it's tough to imagine the Celtics being better than teams like the New York Knicks (reigning champions), 76ers (also added LeBron James), Toronto Raptors (at least if the Kawhi Leonard trade goes through), Cleveland Cavaliers (were just in the conference finals), and the Indiana Pacers (will get a healthy Tyrese Haliburton back).

(I still think the Celtics are going to be better than the Miami Heat, even after they acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo. They have no spacing or depth, and the Antetokounmpo-Bam Adebayo fit is questionable.)

However, with a win on opening day against the Pistons, the Celtics can show everyone that not only should they not be counted out, but they might be able to make some real noise.

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