Joe Mazzulla met with the media to discuss the state of the Celtics heading into the Eastern Conference Finals, and their potential matchup with either the New York Knicks or the Indiana Pacers.
The Boston Celtics have advanced to their sixth Eastern Conference Finals in eight years, a remarkable feat that shouldn't be taken for granted.
But their path to Banner 18 is about to get a lot more challenging.
After completing a gentleman's sweep of the Donovan Mitchell-less Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, the Celtics await the winner of the other East semifinal series between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. The Knicks currently lead that series 3-2 entering Friday night's Game 6 in Indiana, but the Pacers have yet to lose at home in the series and are slight betting favorites to force a Game 7 back in New York on Sunday.
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The good news for the Celtics is that they'll have extra time to prepare for either opponent; after the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series Thursday to force a Game 7, the East Finals officially won't start until Tuesday, May 21 at TD Garden.
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With Kristaps Porzingis still working back from a calf injury and 37-year-old Al Horford recovering from an epic 35-minute effort in Game 5, the Celtics certainly could benefit from a few extra days' rest. And if the Pacers win Game 6 on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET), Game 7 of that series would be Sunday, giving the winner just one day off before facing Boston in the ECF.
Outside the opponent, the East Finals schedule is officially set. Below is a look at each of the Celtics' playoff schedule scenarios for the next round.
NBC Sports Boston will have coverage beginning an hour before every game with Celtics Pregame Live, as well as halftime coverage with Celtics Halftime Live and postgame coverage with Celtics Postgame Live.
Eastern Conference Finals Schedule
- Game 1: Knicks/Pacers vs. Celtics; Tuesday, May 21 -- 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Game 2: Knicks/Pacers vs. Celtics; Thursday, May 23 -- 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Game 3: Celtics at Knicks/Pacers; Saturday, May 25 -- 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Game 4: Celtics at Knicks/Pacers; Monday, May 27 -- 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Game 5:* Knicks/Pacers vs. Celtics, Wednesday, May 29 -- 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Game 6:* Celtics at Knicks/Pacers; Friday, May 31 -- 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Game 7:* Knicks/Pacers vs. Celtics; Sunday, June 2 -- 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
*If necessary
