{"id":1546548,"date":"2023-01-18T14:26:46","date_gmt":"2023-01-18T19:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1546548"},"modified":"2023-01-18T14:26:48","modified_gmt":"2023-01-18T19:26:48","slug":"the-boston-celtics-will-be-well-rested-for-their-rematch-with-the-warriors-and-thats-good-news-for-golden-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/the-boston-celtics-will-be-well-rested-for-their-rematch-with-the-warriors-and-thats-good-news-for-golden-state\/","title":{"rendered":"The Boston Celtics Will Be Well-Rested for Their Rematch With the Warriors, and That's Good News for Golden State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Boston Celtics<\/a> ride a seven-game win streak into Thursday night's game with the Golden State Warriors. Including last year's NBA Finals,<\/a> the Warriors have beaten the Celtics four straight times. The Celtics own the best record in the NBA at 33-12 and are looking for a return trip to the championship round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boston is well-rested after having last played Monday afternoon in Charlotte. A bizarre stat shows that a well-rested Celtics team should bode well for the Warriors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Boston Celtics have been hot since the get-go this season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball while defended by Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center on December 10, 2022, in San Francisco, California. | Thearon W. Henderson\/Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Celtics are in much better shape than they were this time last year, and that should be concerning to the rest of the NBA. Boston has 33 wins in 45 games this year and was 23-22 at this point last season. The Celtics hovered around the .500 mark for much of last year before they turned it on late to become the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boston's only rough patch this year came during an 11-day stretch from Dec. 10 to Dec. 21, when the Celtics dropped five of six games. Since then, they've won 11 of 13 games and hold a four-game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks for first place in the conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Celtics have clearly been motivated by last year's loss to the Warriors in the Finals. They know what it takes to get there, and they've put together a strong start to the season, led by a hungry Jayson Tatum.<\/a> Tatum has been in the MVP race all season, averaging career-highs in points (31.1) and rebounds (8.3). Tatum's desire to get to the basket more this year has gotten him to the foul line more and added another dimension to his already-potent game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest difference between this year's Celtics team and last year's is the bench. A year ago, they consistently went eight deep. Brad Stevens immediately addressed the issue in the offseason, trading for veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon,<\/a> who has been the unquestioned leader of the second unit. Boston has been the real deal this season and needs to continue its strong play for a chance at banner No. 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A bizarre stat shows rest hasn't been kind to the Celtics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Celtics' struggles with rest continue to be puzzling...

2022-23 BOSTON CELTICS
0 Days Rest: 6-0 (+12.5 scoring margin)
1 Day Rest: 18-4 (+9.4 scoring margin)
2+ Days Rest: 2-7 (-5.4 scoring margin)

(13 of the Celtics' next 14 games are on 0 or 1 days of rest.)<\/p>— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) January 2, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>