Boston Celtics Taking the West Test

It's no secret that the Boston Celtics own the NBA's best record (34-8) as January dwindles down. It's also no secret that the Celtics have played one of the easiest schedules in the NBA to this point, and that is true. However, we all have to give credit to the Celtics because despite playing the 3rd easiest schedule in the NBA, they own the best record. -- (In case you were wondering, the Hornets and Wizards are the teams that have played a easier schedule than the C's) -- NBA schedules pretty much even out by the end of the year anyways. Every team from the West will play every team in the East two times by the end of the year and vice-versa. Therefore, when it's all said and done, all the Eastern Conference teams will have nearly the same SOS as the next Eastern Conference team, and the Western teams amongst the Western teams will have nearly the same SOS. The only difference is some Conference teams will play a certain team within their own conference three times, some will play a certain team 4 times.

Before I get sidetracked let me tell you one thing. The Celt's have yet to take the WEST TEST. In other words, they have not played the top four teams in the Western Conference yet. Those four teams are New Orleans (31-12), Phoenix (32-13), Dallas (30-13) , and San Antonio (28-14) . The easy schedule the Celtics got in the first three months changes drastically in February and March. The NBA schedule makers gave them a nasty present over the next two months, and that nasty present is those four teams Western Conference teams, eight times! They also get Cleveland twice, Denver, Golden State, Portland, Detroit, Utah, and Houston in this stretch! That is 16 above average teams, 9 of which are road games. If Boston dominates as they have been after this stretch, look out!

Thursday January 31 Dallas Mavericks 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday February 5 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday February 6 Los Angeles Clippers 7:30 p.m.
Friday February 8 @ Minnesota Timberwolves 8:00 p.m.
Sunday February 10 San Antonio Spurs TBA
Tuesday February 12 @ Indiana Pacers 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday February 13 New York Knicks 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday February 19 @ Denver Nuggets 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday February 20 @ Golden State Warriors 10:30 p.m.
Friday February 22 @ Phoenix Suns 10:30 p.m.
Sunday February 24 @ Portland Trailblazers 6:00 p.m.
Monday February 25 @ Los Angeles Clippers 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday February 27 Cleveland Cavaliers 7:30 p.m.
Friday February 29 Charlotte Bobcats 7:30 p.m.
Sunday March 2 Atlanta Hawks TBA
Wednesday March 5 Detroit Pistons 7:30 p.m.
Friday March 7 Chicago Bulls 8:00 p.m.
Saturday March 8 @ Memphis Grizzlies 8:00 p.m.
Monday March 10 @ Philadelphia 76ers 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday March 12 Seattle Supersonics 7:30 p.m.
Friday March 14 Utah Jazz 7:30 p.m.
Saturday March 15 @ Milwaukee Bucks 8:30 p.m.
Monday March 17 @ San Antonio Spurs 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday March 18 @ Houston Rockets 8:30 p.m.
Thursday March 20 @ Dallas Mavericks 8:30 p.m.
Saturday March 22 @ New Orleans Hornets 8:00 p.m.
Monday March 24 Philadelphia 76ers 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday March 26 Phoenix Suns 7:30 p.m.
Friday March 28 New Orleans Hornets 7:30 p.m.
Sunday March 30 Miami Heat TBA

This two month stretch will do one of two things for the Celtics. It will either shut the Celtic critics up that have doubted the team with the soft schedule -- or it will feed the fire of the Celtic critics. That all depends on the Celtics, and their grade in the West Test.

Stay tuned, it will be fun two months of basketball!