The Celtics officially earned the right to defend their NBA title by securing their place in the playoffs for the 11th straight season Friday night with a win on the road over the Miami Heat.
Boston is currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have a commanding 8.5 game lead over the Celtics.
The defending NBA Finals champions are seeking their record-extending 19th title. Last season, they defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the best-of-seven series to clinch Banner No. 18.
Reaching the playoffs would be considered a successful season for many franchises, but that is the bare minimum for Boston. The Celtics have been to six of the last eight Eastern Conference Finals, winning the title for the first time in that span last season.
The Celtics continue to be a better team on the road (25-7) than at TD Garden this season. They have the second-best road record in the league, behind only Cleveland, and have won eight of their last nine games away from Causeway Street. Winning on the road bodes well for any team trying to capture an NBA title.
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