It’s good the Celtics are starting to get healthy, because they’ll need all hands on deck for their brutal next two weeks.
It doesn’t get a whole lot easier for the men in green after Sunday’s statement win in Los Angeles. They’ve got a game in Sacramento tonight and in Charlotte next week, but all eyes will be focused on the next four teams heading to the Garden — Dallas, Orlando, Los Angeles and Miami.
Feb. 4:?Dallas
The C’s blew a five-point lead with less than two minutes to play earlier this season at Dallas.
They were forced to play small ball, though, as Kendrick Perkins and Shaquille O’Neal sat and Jermaine O’Neal was limited. Boston will look for “big” revenge Friday.
Feb. 6:?Orlando
The teams meet for the third and final time this season, having each won at home.
Perkins is one of the best in the league at containing Magic superman Dwight Howard, so expect this to be a true test of the Celtics center’s value going forward toward the postseason.
Feb. 10:?LA Lakers
Ah, L.A., we meet again. Hopefully the Lakers are finished licking their wounds after the second-half beating they took from the C’s on Sunday. Regardless, this is the hottest ticket of the regular season, and both teams will bring their ‘A’ game. Will they meet in the NBA Finals again?
Feb. 13:?Miami
… They won’t if Miami has any say in it. What started off as an above-average team has become, as many expected, a force in the league. While the C’s are 2-0 against the Heat this season, look for Miami to want to prove a point this time around.
The Heat aren’t the same team it was on Opening Night. But then again, neither is Boston.
