Bleacher Report recently flagged the Boston Celtics as one of several NBA teams sliding in the wrong direction heading into the stretch run.
In a post-All-Star break analysis, Grant Hughes noted Boston’s 9-4 record over its last 13 games stands as the weakest mark among the East’s top four teams. While the Knicks have gained ground, the Pistons sit on pace for 60 wins and the Cavaliers upgraded via the Darius Garland-James Harden deal, the Celtics risk slipping in the standings at a pivotal moment, according to Hughes.
The piece points out that a continued dip could cost Boston home-court advantage in the first round or even drop them into a tougher 4-5 matchup. With Jayson Tatum eyeing a return that could align for the May playoffs, securing the No. 2 seed would guarantee favorable positioning through the conference semis. Instead, the Celtics currently project more like the fourth- or fifth-best team in the East over the past month, per the report.
Boston has already exceeded expectations this season after losing Tatum to an Achilles tear and three other core pieces in the offseason.
No major internal issues were cited for the Celtics, but according to Hughes, the relative regression comes at the worst possible time with seeding implications looming large.
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