Hardwood Houdini

5 days ago | hardwoodhoudini.com | Bobby Krivitsky

How the Celtics navigate this challenge will either sharpen them for future playoff rounds or end their season. The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic's first-round series starts Sunday at TD Garden. One of the most crucial battles in determining this best-of-seven will test the NBA's reigning champions mentally even more than it will physically. The Magic drew the most fouls in the Association this season. Their downhill attack produced 20.3 favorable foul calls per contest, according to NBA.com.

6 days ago | hardwoodhoudini.com | Bobby Krivitsky

"[It's] something that we've just gotta be ready for."The Orlando Magic surrendered the fewest three-point makes and attempts per game in the NBA this season. They yielded 31.4 tries from behind the arc. Opponents converted on just 11.4 of those, per NBA.com. The Boston Celtics can personally attest to the restrictive nature of the former's stingy perimeter defense. The Association's reigning champions are launching nearly 50 threes per contest.

1 week ago | hardwoodhoudini.com | Bobby Krivitsky

"The most like, exciting feeling that you can get; just the idea of that."The summer of 2023 saw Kristaps Porzingis take his talents to the Boston Celtics via a trade that shook the franchise's foundation. The Celtics parted with the heart and soul of the team, Marcus Smart, after nine years in Boston.

1 week ago | hardwoodhoudini.com | Jack Simone

Change nothing (yet be ready for anything). BOSTON — Three years ago, the Boston Celtics were on the cusp of a championship but fell just short. A major coaching change ensued, and they were thrown back into the fire. Two years ago, the Celtics were left heartbroken at TD Garden by a flurry of Caleb Martin threes and a symphony of Jimmy Butler heroics. Two huge roster additions later, they were back to business. One year ago: Glory.

1 week ago | hardwoodhoudini.com | Jack Simone

What a mess. For the past three seasons, Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics have carefully built one of the best lineups in recent basketball history. Everyone in their lineup can play defense and shoot threes (outside of Luke Kornet, who makes his offensive impact with screening and passing out of the short roll). This formula won them a title last season and has them poised to compete for another this year. On the other side of the country, the Phoenix Suns have taken a different approach.