Here's the latest on the NBA schedule as it relates to the C's.
The Boston Celtics will learn more about the NBA schedule this week, with reports saying that the Christmas Day schedule will be released on Tuesday morning and the full schedule will be released on Thursday.
We do not know yet if the C's will play on Christmas Day, as no leaks have come out, but Boston is a typical staple on the calendar that day.
Possible Christmas Day matchups
In an effort to minimize travel for players and to mitigate the loss of family time, the league does tend to put more regional matchups on the Christmas schedule.
If that's the case again, the Celtics could match up with the New York Knicks, pitting two longtime rivals against each other. Obviously, the Knicks are the reigning NBA champions and projected to be one of the top teams in the league again.
And Boston could also play against the Philadelphia 76ers, which would pit the C's against their conference rivals while also pitting Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum against each other for one of six regular season matchups.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) defends Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Lucas Boland-Imagn ImagesChristmas Day reminder
Once again, the NBA will be competing with the NFL on the Christmas Day front. The Buffalo Bills will take on the Denver Broncos while the Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers take on the Chicago Bears.
Regardless of if/when the Celtics play, the NBA will have a tough time competing with that schedule. At least the New England Patriots do not play also.
Other schedule news and notes
With Brown and LeBron James now in Philadelphia, we know that the 76ers are being given the maximum allotment of primetime games. That likely means that the Celtics will have a reduction in high profile games, as the 76ers TV load has to be brought in in from somewhere.
Elsewhere in the news for Boston
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson died over the weekend at the age of 86 years old, leaving behind an incredible basketball legacy that saw him win five NBA titles as a player and become the second-winningest coach in NBA history.
A 14-year player, Nelson was also a head coach for 31 years, giving him nearly 50 years of service to the NBA game. He's truly one of the most decorated people to ever represent the league.
As a player, Nelson won all five titles with the Celtics in the 1960s and 1970s, playing with some of the franchise's true legends like Bill Russell and John Havlicek. We discussed possible ways that the C's could honor "Nellie" here.
