Boston Celtics Taking the West Test

It's no secret that the Boston Celtics own the NBA's best record (34-8) as January dwindles down. It's also no secret that the Celtics have played one of the easiest schedules in the NBA to this point, and that is true. However, we all have to give credit to the Celtics because despite playing the 3rd easiest schedule in the NBA, they own the best record. -- (In case you were wondering, the Hornets and Wizards are the teams that have played a easier schedule than the C's) -- NBA schedules pretty much even out by the end of the year anyways. Every team from the West will play every team in the East two times by the end of the year and vice-versa. Therefore, when it's all said and done, all the Eastern Conference teams will have nearly the same SOS as the next Eastern Conference team, and the Western teams amongst the Western teams will have nearly the same SOS. The only difference is some Conference teams will play a certain team within their own conference three times, some will play a certain team 4 times.

Before I get sidetracked let me tell you one thing. The Celt's have yet to take the WEST TEST. In other words, they have not played the top four teams in the Western Conference yet. Those four teams are New Orleans (31-12), Phoenix (32-13), Dallas (30-13) , and San Antonio (28-14) . The easy schedule the Celtics got in the first three months changes drastically in February and March. The NBA schedule makers gave them a nasty present over the next two months, and that nasty present is those four teams Western Conference teams, eight times! They also get Cleveland twice, Denver, Golden State, Portland, Detroit, Utah, and Houston in this stretch! That is 16 above average teams, 9 of which are road games. If Boston dominates as they have been after this stretch, look out!