It is not the official schedule release for the Boston Celtics’ 2022-2023 season, but it is something. While Brad Stevens is working to fill up the roster, some pre-season games featuring Boston have been released by other Eastern Conference clubs.
Via the social media of the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Charlotte Hornets, Joe Mazzulla’s squad will take on its Atlantic Division rival twice, and Steve Clifford’s team once before the regular season. Nick Nurse’s team travels to Boston to open up its preparation for meaningful basketball on October 8 at 6:00 p.m. EST. The green and white then visit Wells Fargo Center three days later for a 7:00 p.m. EST tip-off.
On July 28, the Hornets announced their pre-season schedule, revealing that the Boston Celtics will fly to North Carolina on October 19 for a 7:00 p.m. EST start time. The 17-time NBA champions are yet to put out the final pre-season fixture which is most likely going to be between October 12-16. The 2022-2023 NBA schedule dropped on August 17, leading many to believe that within the next few weeks, the C’s path to the playoffs will be revealed to the public.
a new season starting soon. 🎬
🎟️ & info: https://t.co/XfcorLC7zH | @Toyota pic.twitter.com/f9inP37fgC
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) August 4, 2023
Last season, Boston’s only two wins in the pre-season were against the team from the Queen City. Jaylen Brown led the team on both nights in the scoring department. The last time the 76ers clashed with the Celtics ahead of the regular season was in 2020 on a night when Jeff Teague netted 18 points in a loss by Stevens’ team. While it does not count for much, Boston has not had a winning pre-season since 2019 when it went 4-0 including that infamous 30-point display by Carsen Edwards
It will be the first opportunity for Mazzulla and his new-look coaching staff to experiment with a squad that differs significantly from last year’s Eastern Conference Finals run. Jordan Walsh and Oshae Brissett are two intriguing guys who will try to carve out additional minutes with quality performances before the real basketball begins.
Furthermore, it will be the first glimpse at the ultra-large starting lineup, which includes Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, the Jays, and new starting point guard Derrick White. Stevens has added four new players to this squad centered around Jayson Tatum and Brown’s talents, including the surprise trade that brought in Porzingis in exchange for Marcus Smart.
While Boston Celtics fans await the start of the regular season, three preseason dates have been set.
The green and white will be one of the last teams in the league to play their practice matches. The Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, and Toronto Raptors are among the several clubs that have released their four-game schedules this week.
With the goal of expanding and becoming more global, the league will hold games in both Montreal and Vancouver.
The regular season begins on October 24, while the in-season tournament begins on November 3.
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