Our five favorite deep tracks from the Celtics’ 2024-25 schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics’ 2024-25 regular-season schedule is out. You don’t need us to tell you some of the obvious dates to circle, like the opening night ring ceremony against the Knicks, a Christmas Day visit from the 76ers, or two rivalry games with the Lakers.
We’re here to be your schedule sommelier. The 82-game schedule is like a track listing to a popular music album, and we’re here trying to identify the deep tracks that should excite you more than the greatest hits.
With that in mind, here are the dates that really jumped off the schedule upon our first glance:
1. A new villain emerges (Nov. 6 vs. Golden State)
Who would have thought that Steve Kerr, of all people, would supplant Kyrie Irving as Villain No. 1 in Celtics Nation?
We thought Boston winning a world title in June would exorcise any lingering demons from the 2022 Finals loss to Golden State. And yet the first place our eyes raced to was the Warriors’ lone visit to TD Garden this season.
Kerr can expect an earful from Celtics fans after Jayson Tatum’s improbable double DNP as part of Team USA’s Olympic journey in Paris. Tatum, despite being First-Team All-NBA during Boston’s title season, got glued to the bench for two games against Serbia.
Kerr suggested some make-believe issue with “matchups,” then nearly cost Team USA a chance to play for gold in the opening round of knockout play as Tatum withered on the bench. Kerr’s veteran stars saved him from disaster.
The Warriors’ annual visit didn’t project to land on this list a month ago. Now it takes our top spot.
The Celtics thrived last season in large part because of Tatum’s willingness to simply make the right play and prioritize winning over the sort of loud scoring outbursts that other so-called superstars produce. But we suspect he might have a little extra motivation to put up a big scoring night against Kerr and Co.
2. Jaylen’s revenge tour (Oct. 30 at Indiana)
The first matchup against the Pacers was already going to land on our list given that it’s an Eastern…
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