The Celtics’ matchup against the Brooklyn Nets tonight is their first bite at the NBA in-season tournament apple. This being the first iteration of the tourney, it’s impossible to tell how seriously teams will take the games.
One thing is clear, though: The in-season tournament is weird. It’s composed almost entirely of regular-season games, it will conclude in Las Vegas, and it is being played on alternate courts that most fans seem to agree are abominations. (We broke down the tournament in this piece from Saturday, if you want a refresher.