The Celtics face the Bulls at home on Monday night in what looks like one of the more manageable games on a schedule that does not offer many. In an Eastern Conference that has been unusually deep this season, Boston cannot afford to waste many chances like this one.
That is the key point here. Earlier this season, the Celtics were already dragged into two absolute dogfights against the Pistons and Knicks, which is a reminder that even the teams below the very top can make life difficult. But the Bulls sit in a different bracket, and this home meeting is being framed as an important chance for Boston to bank a result before the calendar tightens again.
Why this game matters for Boston
The broader conference picture explains why this matchup stands out. The Knicks, Pistons, 76ers and Raptors are all being treated as bona fide contenders, while the Pacers, Cavaliers, Heat, Magic and Hawks all think they can get into that mix. Even the Wizards and Hornets are pushing the idea that they can be playoff material.
In that kind of environment, every game against a team below the main cluster matters more than usual. The Bulls are one of only three teams, along with the Bucks and Nets, that are seen as a clear step below the rest of the conference, which is why this is such a useful opportunity for Boston.
The run after Monday night is the real test
What makes the timing even more important is what comes next. After the Bulls, Boston faces the Nets, then the Bulls again. The following week brings two games against the Bucks, so this is not the kind of stretch the Celtics can afford to treat casually.
If Boston want to make the most of this softer patch in October, Monday night is the place to start. It is one of the few games on the immediate schedule where they are expected to do the business at home, and in a crowded Eastern Conference that sort of chance does not come around very often.
