By most accounts, the Boston Celtics have one of the easiest remaining strengths of schedule left in the NBA’s 2023-24 season, but fans of the storied ball club currently in the Eastern Conference’s top spot should not start licking their chops just yet.

 

The Celtics are looking at what will likely be the toughest stretch of tilts in terms of the strength of opponent for Boston this season.

Between now and Christmas Day, the Celtics will play eight games against teams that would safely finish above the cutoff for the play-in tournament save for the Golden State Warriors, a team that always rises to the occasion of playing Boston, and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Add in that there are two back-to-backs and half the games coming on a West Coast swing, and the challenge of coming away with less than three losses gets steep.

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Will the Celtics be major players in the trade market? What went wrong in the IST? And more!

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— Celtics Lab Podcast (@CelticsLab) December 7, 2023

 

Let’s take a look at this murderer’s row of opponents.

12/12 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – No, 6 East

(Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

12/14 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – No, 6 East

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

12/15 vs. Orlando Magic – No. 2 East

Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

12/17 vs. Orlando Magic – No. 2 East

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

12/19 at Golden State Warriors – No. 11 West

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

12/20 – at Sacramento Kings – No. 6 West

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

12/23 at Los Angeles Clippers – No. 9 West

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

12/24 at Los Angeles Lakers – No. 6 West

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)