The Celtics’ wait for the second round could be a short one
A look at the who and when awaiting Jayson Tatum & Co. as the Celtics advance to the second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Dec 13, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket while defended by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY SportsThe Celtics are off to the second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs, where they will square off against the winner of the first-round series between the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls.
And you may not have to wait long for the Celtics to get back to work.
With Milwaukee up three games to one over the Bulls, and with the series set to resume Wednesday night in Milwaukee, it's entirely possible that the second-round showdown is set in time for a weekend start. Boston will have homecourt advantage in the second round, too, as the No. 2 seed over the No. 3 seed Bucks or No. 6 Bulls, and with TD Garden relatively vacant fo the Green.
Open for the weekend as the Bruins wrap up their regular season home schedule Thursday night against the Sabres — and with the Bruins slated to begin the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs on the road beginning as early as May 2 — the Celtics would not run into a schedule conflict of any sort until May 5. (The Bruins, for what it's worth, are expected to play home games 3 and 4 of their first-round series with an opponent TBD on May 6 and May 8, but that's yet to be finalized.)
And according to MassLive's Brian Robb, an early wrap from the Bucks on Wednesday would set the sides up for a Game 1 at the Garden on Saturday night, while a six-game finish could see things start on Sunday. Should the Bucks and Bulls go the distance, a Tuesday night start would become the likely start, according to Robb.
Should the Celtics play the Bucks, the sides will renew their rivalry after a regular season series split at 2-2, and with the Bucks likely without Khris Middleton to begin the series.
The Bulls, meanwhile, will need to rattle off three straight wins, which would push their first-round series with the Bucks through May 1 and then take on a C's squad that beat 'em in two of their three head-to-heads in 2021-22.
In the meantime, the Celtics will happily take the extra rest after a four-game sweep that required a heavier 94-foot effort than most first-round sweeps this time of year.
“It’s huge,” Jayson Tatum said of the break between the first and second round. “Obviously, more time for Rob [Williams] and then myself [and] everybody. This was a very taxing four games, you know? It took everything on both ends of the floor. So getting these five or six days off are going to be very beneficial for everybody.”
The Boston Celtics took on the Brooklyn Nets in Game 4 of their first-round 2022 NBA playoff series on Monday night at Barclays Center. Check out photos from the game below.
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesKevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics square off during the first quarter of Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesRobert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics dunks in the third quarter as Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets defends during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills (8) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry (30) and forward Nic Claxton (33) during the first quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is fouled as he drives to the basket by Brooklyn Nets center Andre Drummond (0) in front of Nets forward Bruce Brown (1) during the first quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesJayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts after he is called for a foul in the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin (2) controls the ball against Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and center Daniel Theis (27) during the first quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Seth Curry (30) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) controls the ball against Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesKevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates his three point shot in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesKevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets heads down court in the first quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesKevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets passes the ball as he is pressured by Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics in the second quarter during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NBA: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsApr 25, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) reacts after hitting a three point shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter of game four of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets - Game Four
Elsa/Getty ImagesJaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dunks as Nic Claxton #33 of the Brooklyn Nets defends in the first half during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. He has been covering the Bruins since 2010, and has been a member of the Boston chapter of the PHWA since 2013. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
