10 must-see games on the Celtics’ 2016-17 schedule
From a date with Kevin Durant's Warriors to potential farewells for old friends.
COMMENTARY
The NBA released the schedule for the 2016-17 season on Thursday and the up-and-coming Celtics are one of the teams the league has elected to showcase nationally throughout the season.
After adding Al Horford to a 48-win roster through free agency, the Celtics have been scheduled for 22 national television appearances. That’s a 15-game jump from last season, the largest increase for any team in the NBA.
With expectations for head coach Brad Stevens’ squad on the rise, here’s an early look at 10 games fans should circle on their calendars for next season:
Oct. 26 vs. Brooklyn: The Celtics will open up their regular-season slate at home against the Nets for the second time in three years. This contest will give Boston fans an early peek at Jeremy Lin and the new-look Nets, a team that will again be watched closely this year locally. The Celtics’ can swap first-round picks with Brooklyn in 2017.
Oct. 27 @ Chicago: A pair of familiar faces (Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade) will take the floor as Bulls teammates in this matchup which also serves as the NBA’s first Thursday night TNT broadcast of the season. Celtics fans will also get a closer look at rumored trade target Jimmy Butler as Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg tries to get his revamped squad to mesh.
Nov. 3 @ Cleveland: The Celtics face an early challenge when they travel to Cleveland to take on the defending champions just five games into the NBA calendar. With the help of Horford, the Celtics will get a chance to show the league they can develop into a legitimate threat to the Cavs in the East.
Nov. 18 vs. Golden State: Kevin Durant will likely hear it from crowd at TD Garden as he makes his debut in Boston wearing a Warriors uniform after spurning the Celtics this offseason. While the Warriors seem like the greatest challenge on the Celtics’ schedule, this contest will be close, if history is any kind of indicator: Five of the teams’ past six matchups have been decided by five points or less.
Dec. 9 vs. Toronto: The Raptors are expected to be Boston’s chief rival in the Atlantic Division, but that’s not why this game will stand out. Former Celtics forward Jared Sullinger will make his first appearance on the Garden parquet as a visitor after the team passed on bringing him back this summer. After a four-year tenure full of ups and downs for Sullinger in Boston, the crowd reaction for his return will be worth watching.
Dec. 25 @ New York: The Celtics will kick off the NBA’s five-game Christmas day schedule with a noon showdown against Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose and the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. It will be Boston’s first Christmas appearance during the Brad Stevens era, a strong sign the franchise is on the rise in the eyes of NBA schedule makers.
Jan. 13 @ Atlanta: A homecoming awaits Horford in the opening weeks of 2017 as he returns to the court that he played on for the first nine seasons of his career. While Horford has voiced nothing but appreciation for his time in Atlanta, his father, Tito, pointed to a lack of passion in the Hawks’ fanbase as one of the reasons his son elected to leave for Boston. Those remarks set up what could be a mixed reception from the crowd at Phillips Arena.
Jan. 21 vs. Portland: It’s hard to find a player who benefitted more from playing under Stevens than Evan Turner has over the past two years. After signing a team-friendly, two-year deal with Boston in 2014, he excelled as a versatile piece under Stevens. Strong play in Boston helped Turner land a monster four-year, $70 million deal with Portland in July. The swingman makes his return to the Garden floor in January, where he’ll get a chance to show his appreciation for his former squad and coach.
Feb. 5 vs. LA Clippers: The Celtics’ annual Super Bowl Sunday matinee will be watched with extra intrigue in 2017 as the Clippers’ trip to Boston could serve as Paul Pierce’s final appearance in TD Garden. The former Celtics captain is still debating whether to return for one final stint in LA for the 2016-17 season. If he does elect to play one more season, you can count on plenty of tributes and watery eyes in what is sure to be an emotional contest for the Truth.
March 15 vs. Minnesota: A year of goodbyes may continue for Celtics fans in March, as the potential for Kevin Garnett’s final appearance in Boston hangs over this contest as well. Like Pierce, Garnett has not made an official decision yet on his status for the 2016-17 season. But you can bet the Garden staff will happily crank “Gino Time” for him if he does in fact suit up one last time in Boston.
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