Breaking Down Celtics' 2016-17 Schedule
BOSTON (CBS) -- The NBA announced the 2016-17 schedule on Thursday, and it seems the hype surrounding the Celtics isn't just in the Boston area.
The league itself is thinking big with the C's, who have their sights set on the top of the Eastern Conference after winning 48 games last season and adding Al Horford to the mix this summer. Brad Stevens' squad, after appearing on national TV just eight times the last two seasons, will be in the national spotlight 22 times next season (24 if you include their games on NBA TV). That's the eighth-most appearances among the 30 NBA teams.
Download: Printable Celtics Schedule
Here are the highlights of the upcoming season for Boston basketball:
Durant Comes To Boston -- As A Warrior
The wound is still fresh and Jae Crowder is probably still pretty pissed that Kevin Durant is a member of the Warriors. He'll get his first chance to express those feelings in person on the court early in the season, as Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymon Green (pending a random suspension) come out to play at the TD Garden on Friday, November 18 -- ESPN's featured game that evening.
The Celtics played Golden State tough in both of their meetings last season and were the first team to beat them on their home floor, and with the added fuel from Durant's decision this summer, their matchups are must-see tv this season.
Champs In Town
The Celtics play the defending champion Cavaliers four times next season, but LeBron James and company won't make their first trip to Boston until Wednesday, March 1. They make their second trip to Boston in the season's final month, on Wednesday, April 5. The Celtics get their trips to Cleveland out of the way in the first two months of the season: Thursday, November 3 and Thursday, December 29.
All four Celtics-Cavaliers games this season are on national TV.
Must-Wins Against Brooklyn
The Celtics open their season at home Wednesday, October 26 against the Brooklyn Nets, their first of four must-wins against their division foe. They meet again in Brooklyn on Wednesday, November 23 and Friday, March 17, and then for a final time in Boston on Monday, April 10.
In case you haven't heard three million times over the last few months, the Celtics can swap first-round picks with the Nets, with Brooklyn's pick projected to once again be somewhere in the top 3, making these extremely important for the franchise. The C's suffered two embarrassing losses to the Nets last season, which were huge when you look back at them finishing as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. They can't let these games get away from them again, with that extra lottery/draft night incentive still present.
Horford Returns To Atlanta
Boston's big free agent addition returns to Atlanta, where he spent the first nine seasons of his NBA career, on Friday, January 13 -- another nationally televised game for the Celtics. It's Boston's first of three tilts against Atlanta (with the Hawks making their only trip to Boston on Monday, February 27 and the C's paying another visit to Atlanta on Thursday, April 6), a series that has even more gusto after the Hawks sent Boston home from the playoffs in six games last postseason.
X-Mas With The C's
For the first time since 2012, the Celtics have a spot on the league's Christmas Day slate. Boston will take on the new-look Knicks at noon, leading off the NBA's marquee day.
And as Celtics radio play-by-play man Sean Grande pointed out on Twitter, spending Christmas Day at Madison Square Garden has led to good things for the Celtics.
Clippers In Town On Super Bowl Sunday
As you get ready for Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots to add another Super Bowl title to their resumes on Sunday, February 5, you can enjoy what could be Paul Pierce's final visit to the TD Garden as an appetizer.
Road Trips Out West
The Celtics have two lengthy road trips against Western Conference foes, with the first trip a four-gamer in February. After they're done watching the Super Bowl, the C's head out west for tilts against Sacramento, Portland, Utah and Dallas over a six-day stretch.
And just as your sleep schedule gets back on track, Boston heads back out west in March for a five-game swing with matchups against the Lakers, Suns, Clippers, Warriors and Nuggets. Their eight day trip starts on March 3 in Los Angeles, on national TV, of course.
Lengthy Homestand Late In Season
The Celtics close March with a six-game stay at the TD Garden, as they welcome in the Wizards, Pacers, Suns, Heat, Bucks and Magic over a 12-day stretch.
Overall, nine of Boston's 16 games in March are at home.
Back-To-Backs
The NBA made a point to schedule fewer back-to-backs for every team this season, and the Celtics go from 19 last season to 17 for the upcoming season.
They'll likely enjoy the rest, but the C's were great in the second leg of back-to-backs last season, going 12-7.
Hello, Old Friends
Jared Sullinger returns to Boston for the first time as a member of the Toronto Raptors on Friday, December 9. Boston will get their first look at Evan Turner in a Portland Trail Blazers uniform on Sunday, January 21.
