Boston opens Tuesday in Detroit against the team whose net rating sat a tenth above its own last season, then stays home for the Knicks, Bulls and Nets. Devin Carter is the only Celtic listed out, and his estimated return is November 8.
The Pistons are the only opponent this week built like Boston.
Detroit went 60-22 last season, four wins better than Boston's 56-26, and finished with a net rating of 8.4 to Boston's 8.3. The teams got there differently. Detroit's offensive rating was 117.3 and its defensive rating 108.9; Boston's were 120.0 and 111.7, a better offense carrying a worse defense. The Pistons played at a pace of 99.9 and Boston at 95.6, so the opener runs at their speed unless Boston drags it down. Cade Cunningham put up 23.9 points and 9.9 assists in 64 games last season, and Jalen Duren added 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in 70. Nothing on Friday, Sunday or Monday poses that pair of problems.
Rest is even in Detroit and tight at the end of the week.
Both teams arrive with three rest days and two games in the previous seven, so neither side has a fatigue argument Tuesday. Boston's next game is three days later, Friday against the Knicks on Prime Video. Then the gap closes: the Bulls visit Sunday and the Nets Monday, the only back-to-back of the week, both at home. Mazzulla's rotation on Sunday night will say more about how far down the bench he trusts than anything the opener shows.
Carter is out, and everyone else has been cleared.
Devin Carter is listed out through an illness, with an estimated return of November 8, which covers this week and the next. CelticsBlog reported the diagnosis is mono. The group listed day-to-day for rest on October 16 was cleared the following day: Tatum, George, White, Conley, Hauser, Queta, Pritchard and Robinson. Detroit lists Taurean Prince out for personal reasons; he played 26 games at 23.5 minutes last season, a rotation loss rather than a headline one.
Boston's most productive lineup no longer exists.
The five of Brown, White, Queta, Pritchard and Hauser posted a net rating of +17.9 across 35 games and 200 minutes last season, an offensive rating of 122.6 against a defensive rating of 104.7. Brown is in Philadelphia. Paul George, 36, averaged 17.3 points and shot 39.2 percent on threes in 37 games, and his minutes in Brown's place are the variable in every figure above. Whether the defense stays near 104.7 with George on that spot is what this week begins to answer. Four games will not settle it, and a loss in Detroit will not disprove it either.
When do the Celtics play this week?
Tuesday, October 20 at Detroit on NBC and Peacock, Friday, October 23 against the Knicks on Prime Video, then Sunday, October 26 against the Bulls and Monday, October 27 against the Nets, both at home.
Is Devin Carter playing in the opener?
No. Carter is out with an illness, and his estimated return is November 8.
