Visit from Pistons a chance for Celtics to solidify themselves among Eastern Conference contenders
Two teams are separating themselves in the Eastern Conference, and one of those teams comes to TD Garden on Monday, the Pistons.
A conference that prognosticators thought would be led by the Knicks and Cavaliers has not gone as expected. The Pistons took over the top spot with a 13-game winning streak, one that was broken by the Celtics last month, while the Knicks have steadily improved over the past few weeks and face the Spurs in the NBA Cup final on Tuesday.
The Celtics sit third and didn’t move down despite Thursday’s disappointing road loss to the Bucks, and now they have a chance to cement themselves in the East race over the next few weeks. The next three games will provide considerable tests, against the Pistons, Heat, and Raptors, before a pair of games against the rebuilding Pacers and then a West Coast trip against four teams that are at the bottom of the conference standings.
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Most impressive about the Celtics’ resurgence after an 0-3 start is their overall depth and the contributions from the likes of Jordan Walsh and Josh Minott. Joe Mazzulla has dug deep into his bench and his training camp message of staying ready to all 14 players has resonated.
That type of production has to continue. The encouraging news is that Walsh has turned into the 3-and-D wing the club has sought for years, while Minott has managed to play well in his second-unit stints. With the team strong in the wing position and Derrick White and Payton Pritchard emerging to become consistent complements to Jaylen Brown, the obvious needs at the trade deadline are less clear.
The Celtics could use a big man to back up center Neemias Queta.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
But the Celtics could use another big man to back up Neemias Queta. The Celtics have flourished with a smaller lineup at times, with Walsh or even Minott playing center, but that may not be sustainable. Three of the players who have been left out of Mazzulla’s rotation are all in the frontcourt.
The Celtics were hoping Luka Garza, Xavier Tillman, or Chris Boucher would provide quality frontcourt minutes, but they are mostly sitting on the bench. Garza began the season as the primary backup center but has not played because of Mazzulla’s decision in five of the last nine games.
Garza was prone to foul trouble and not as effective defensively, and Mazzulla began playing better defenders despite their lack of size.
In a matter of weeks, the Celtics have turned from potential sellers to buyers, and perhaps the player most likely to be traded, Anfernee Simons and his expiring contract, could be dangled to acquire a quality center or retained because of his production off the bench. Simons has blended in well in the Celtics’ system, playing better when he’s been given more of an opportunity.
Anfernee Simons, who has an expiring contract, could be a trade chip for a post player or continue to help the Celtics off the bench, averaging 13.1 points per game.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
The center market at this point is blurry. Players from struggling teams such as Ivica Zubac of the Clippers or the Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford could be available, but it will be at considerable cost. Both players have multiple years remaining on their contracts and would likely require a prospect and considerable draft capital.
How much will president of basketball operations Brad Stevens be willing to offer for a quality center? And the buyout market also will be available if the player earns less than the $12.2 million mid-level exception.
What we do know about these Celtics is they are capable of competing in the East. And their competition has been decimated by injuries. The Cavaliers just lost center Evan Mobley for potentially a month with a calf strain. And the Hawks just announced that former Celtic Kristaps Porzingis, who has already missed 13 of the team’s first 26 games with various injuries and illnesses, will miss at least two more weeks because of an illness.
The Magic, another projected contender who have lost to the Celtics twice already, have lost key forward Franz Wagner for a few weeks with a high ankle sprain. There is a two-way tie for fourth place in the East, just a half-game behind the Celtics and a four-way tie for sixth, one game back.
The Pistons come to TD Garden with a 20-5 record with five wins in their last six games. Detroit has been the most consistent team in the East, losing consecutive games just once this season. But the Pistons’ success is newly found, having lost 28 games in a row just two years ago, and the core of their team still lacking major playoff experience, having lost to the Knicks in the first round last season.
These next few weeks could determine whether the Celtics can vie for not only a playoff spot but perhaps even home-court advantage in the first round. The schedule is softer after Saturday’s game at Toronto, and they go into this stretch well rested and healthy.
Monday’s game is important considering the Celtics’ dreary performance against the Bucks. The Celtics have reached a point where they’ll have a legitimate chance to win every game they play from here on, save perhaps matchups with the Thunder or perhaps a difficult back-to-back.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.
