Robb: Celtics Will Be Tested On Five-Game Road Trip

BOSTON (CBS) – The Celtics will finish the first month of the NBA season above the .500 mark, but much of that success has come courtesy of the friendly confines of the TD Garden. Boston played 10 of their first 16 games of the regular season on the parquet, putting together a solid 6-4 mark against some quality competition.

The team's first true extended test of the season comes in the upcoming nine days though as the Cs make their way through three different time zones over a five-game road trip.

"You see what you're about, it test your team chemistry and tests what you're really about," Crowder said of the extended trip. "You don't have the crowd to feed off of, you've really got yourselves and your coaching staff and the guys you flew with. It tests how together you are as a unit. We're trying to work on that and it'll be a good test for us.

On paper, the competition does not look overly taunting. Three of the five looming opponents (Orlando, Sacramento, New Orleans) are at or well below the .500 mark. Those records are not exactly indicative of the talent on those squads, however.

Under new coach Scott Skiles, the Magic have one of the most diverse collections of lottery talent in the NBA and appear to be putting the pieces together thanks to a revamped starting lineup.

The Kings have been without DeMarcus Cousins for several games due to injury, but the imposing big man is expected to be uniform for the tilt in Mexico City. Meanwhile, Rajon Rondo is starting to look like the point guard who helped carry the Big Three on several deep playoff runs, prior to his ACL tear. After a slow start under new head coach George Karl, Rondo is averaging 12.4 points and 11 assists per game, as Sacramento attempts to climb back into the playoff picture.

With both of those squads, along with top-tier franchises like Miami and San Antonio looming in the next week, Brad Stevens knows his team has its work cut out for it.

"I mean, it's early in the season still, but at the same time, it was more important to play well, after the last week," Stevens said. "It's going to be a heck of a road trip, we're going to have to hunker down and play."

The Celtics fought through the adversity of Marcus Smart's absence to piece together a pair of wins in a row over the Wizards and Sixers. In order for that success to continue, Jae Crowder is adamant the team has to maintain focus when challenges arise.

"We just gotta do it together," Crowder explained. "At times it's going to be tough. We can't hang our heads when it does gets tough. Home teams are going to go on runs, we just gotta stick together and do what we do. Once we get past that point, we're playing the way we want to play, we do take advantage. Gotta stay together and not point the finger and be together."

With uneven play a recurring issue during the month of November, Avery Bradley thinks of the trip as an opportunity to steady the ship. Stevens finally seems to have a better idea of his playing rotation, while Isaiah Thomas has settled into his starting role. With some certainty in place, Bradley believes it's time for the team to show its mettle.

"We need to go down there and play the right way," said Bradley. "That's the most important thing. You don't want to take steps back, especially as a young team, you just want to take steps forward and that's what we plan to do. I'm confident if we do that, we'll get wins and beat these good teams on the road."

Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @CelticsHub.