The Celtics will end up at 57-25

[CelticPride2016]

To do so, they must win 80% of the rest of the schedule.

The only game I worry about is at Golden State. Toronto and Cleveland no longer worry me. We are done with San Antonio.

Our health seems to be coming around. All teams are going to be careful with players. No one is getting rushed back from anything.

All the key ifs are working out.

1) Isaiah is not a ball hog. He seems extremely coachable and no diva like Carmelo or Kobe.

2) The non-swagger guys are taking leaps. I mean Smart, Olynyk, Jerebko and Crowder.

3) The seasoned stars are performing on schedule such as Avery, Al and Amir.

4) Rozier, Brown and Green have improved enough to become viable options off the bench.

That's eleven guys with the last three the least likely to play big minutes in the playoffs. Yet, one never knows. There is still plenty of season left.

Most teams are reaching the point of quitting or going on autopilot. That was mentioned in the t.v. studio coverage. A lot of NBA players are making money with no incentive to go all out and improve. A lot of the remaining schedule could feel like we are toying with teams. There's just not that much separation in talent for two-thirds of the league. We will blow out some of them, but there will be other games like tonight where there is no Gino Time. That is where the value of a win is a win is a win comes in. We need to keep winning those. A trap game loss here or there won't matter.

We proved that by putting an impressive stop to the three game losing streak with four wins in a row. With Toronto and Cleveland slumping, we somehow still made up ground the last couple weeks. To be a game ahead of Toronto and only 2.5 behind Cleveland is huge with only 34 to go.

I am predicting a 27-7 record the rest of the way. An 80% win clip prediction probably sounds ludicrous, but I'm feeling it. The turning point of the season was the wins against Memphis, Utah and then Houston. I especially remember the first game against Memphis as a key signature win.

If healthy for the playoffs, we could make the ECF and then the Finals. Maybe San Antonio or someone could upset Golden State. Then we could upset that team and steal a title. Danny still has time to add someone.

Even if Danny doesn't improve the team, I think we have a fighter's chance against the elite teams. Everyone else I expect us to be favorites or it's a toss-up, say it's Toronto.

So hopefully Brad and Danny play this smart the rest of the season. Until it's clearly proven the NBA is a form of professional wrestling, I am going to root for a Cinderella finish. I refuse to ever assume defeat. Those 34 games will pass quickly and then it will be Spring, time to wrap it up. 34 games. Players currently have the incentive to help Brad become the All-Star game coach by continuing to pile up wins.

We're due to beat Toronto. That's a big game coming up Wednesday. Then the Lakers. Then Doc Rivers and the Clippers.

If we win the next three, then I think my being this positive is accurate. Cleveland and Toronto seem to have some flaws. We are on the rise. We can only get better if we stay relatively healthy.

[SparzWizard]

Next 5 games are interesting:

The Raptors are bound to get back together shortly. Luckily, they have us on their second end of back2back. W.

The Celtics always have a letdown game against the Lakers, so nothing is safe from them despite them being like the second worst team in the league. In contrast, the Celtics play the Lakers better at Staples than they do at the Garden for some strange reasons. I think this game is gonna be an L (and we steal one back in LA the following month).

The Clippers game on Superbowl Sunday. If CP3 is out, I like their chances. W.

The Kings are on a little bit of an up-down trend. Rudy Gay out? W.

Portland is pretty dynamic, but I think the boys will be worn out on the back2back games. Portland with the season series sweep. L.

[CelticPride2016]

Thanks for the response. I also like to think in terms of blocks of games.

Portland scares me. A lot of games put me on edge despite my optimism.

The Lakers could be a trap game, but I think the recent losing streak will negate the odds of that happening.

Rest of the schedule in order:

At home: Raptors, Lakers, Clippers
On road: Kings, Trailblazers, Jazz, Mavericks
Then one home game with Philly
On road: Bulls, Raptors, Pistons
At home: Hawks, Cavs
On road: Lakers, Suns, Clippers, Warriors, Nuggets
At home: Bulls, Timberwolves
On road: Nets, 76ers
At home: Wizards, Pacers, Suns, Heat, Bucks, Magic
one road game at Knicks, then Cleveland at home
On road: Hawks, Hornets
last two at home with Nets and Bucks

The next three are important games with only one trap game.

The other two chunks of games that look interesting are the five game road trip including the Clippers and Warriors and the six game homestand.

We are trending upward for home wins and have a solid 14-10 road record. Our point differential is up to +2.5. Cleveland is at +4.6. The Warriors and Spurs look downright intimidating at +13.1 and +8.1.

The Rockets are third for point differential at +5.8, but I think that is proof there is such a thing as regular season versus playoff teams. Houston must be padding that stat. They are decent, but I think we are the more dangerous team as long as we are healthy.