With tonight’s trip to Atlanta to play the Hawks, the Celtics begin a three-game, season-ending stretch against the teams they are most directly competing against for playoff seeding.
The Celts are tied with the Hawks for the Eastern Conference’s third playoff seed. A win would even the season series at 2-2, though as Southeastern Division champs, the Hawks would win a tiebreaker. The Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets are currently a game behind.
Then again, a win tonight would move the Celtics into sole possession of third place. It’s like the playoffs are starting early around this team.