The Boston Celtics have lost five of their last nine games. Injuries seem to be lingering and their playstyle has been increasingly inconsistent. They have been relying on a couple of their top players...

With just 13 games remaining before the NBA All-Star break, the Boston Celtics are still on track for a trip back to the playoffs. Although their play has been somewhat shaky lately, the Celtics still sit at the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. To maintain this secure spot in the standings, Boston has their work cut out for them given the current shape of their club.

The Boston Celtics lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in a nail biter that came down to the final seconds of regulation on Saturday night. Boston fell short by a final of 96-95 after missing a pair of game-winning shots. The team may have lost something worse than their eighth game on Saturday, however. Celtics point guard Marcus Smart jumped up to block Lakers forward Montrezl Harrell’s layup and landed awkwardly leading some to the assumption it could’ve been an Achilles tear similar to Kevin Durant in the 2019 NBA Finals. Luckily for the team, however, the injury doesn’t appear to be that serious.

The Boston Celtics have had a busy offseason following their defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals at the hands of the Miami Heat. Miami beat Boston in six games forcing the Celtics to miss out on the finals again after making it to the Eastern Conference Finals in three of the last four seasons but haven’t been able to get over the hump.

On July 27, 2013, Boston Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge completed one of the greatest heists the NBA has ever seen, most notably trading Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets for five players and an eventual four first-round picks. Seven years later, the book has closed on Ainge’s opportunity to capitalize on the deal that he will be remembered by as an executive, and it’s time to retire the “Trader Danny” nickname he earned as a result of it.

On Tuesday Boston lost a man who gave his entire adult life to the city and had one of the greatest impacts on one of the world’s most famous sports franchises. Former Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn passed away at the age of 86 on Tuesday. He was a part of the Celtics in some fashion during each of their 17 championships, the first coming in 1957. Heinsohn may be gone, but the imprint he left on the franchise and on the city is something that will live on forever.