Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls will be getting ready for a home game on Tuesday against the Washington Wizards, owners of the league's third-worst record.
Historically, that would suggest the upstart Bulls – who are just a half-game behind the Celtics – are a logical bet to replace them as the No. 1 seed in the East (Boston is 2-7 this season when playing back-to-back away from TD Garden) come Tuesday.
Just how long that lead would last is where the interesting debate begins.
The Bulls have undoubtedly proven themselves serious contenders. Mounting the NBA's third-best record of 47-18, Chicago has beaten San Antonio, Dallas (twice), Orlando (twice), Miami (three times) and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Against the Celtics, they are 1-2, with the last matchup coming on Jan. 8 in Chicago, a 90-79 W for the home team.
And the Bulls, under the tutelage of former Boston defensive guru, Tom Thibodeau, have only become better since.
Derrick Rose, who averaged 26.4 points and better than eight assists per game in the month of February, is emphatically stating his case for league MVP, while Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah each night provide a combined 30 points and 21 rebounds playing the post.
Together, they are a statistical powerhouse on defense, tops in opponents' field-goal percentage (42.9) and tied with Boston for fewest points allowed (91.3). On the boards, they're also best in show — a 5.6 rebounds differential on average (Boston's 18th in that category).
That's why, starting with that January victory over Boston, the Bulls are 23-6 over their last 29 tilts. Thibodeau's got 'em rolling at exactly the right time — just before the postseason.
Much has changed for Boston, as well, and it's still unclear whether it's for better or worse.
What is clear is that the Celtics lack size in the low post. Kendrick Perkins and Semih Erden gone and Jermaine O'Neal is sitting out until April with a knee injury and Shaquille O'Neal sitting out indefinitely with a foot ailment. That lack of size has shown. The C's have given up big points to formidable big men since the changes (Sunday's monstrous win over the Bucks aside).
But Boston has balanced that low-post problem with more scoring ability. Where Perk was a defensive stopper, replacement Nenad Krstic has been an offensive boon, averaging 15 points in his last five outings.
April 7 in Chicago will be the first chance to see how the Celtcs' new pieces match up against the Bulls.
As for which team takes home the prize of the No. 1 seed at the regular season's end — Chicago has the easier schedule, and Boston has shown a willingness in the past to sacrifice ranking for rest.
But they'll both tell you, it's the potential postseason meetings that will matter most. And we all know there's plenty of history to stoke that fire. The seven-game, four-overtime, marathon conference quarterfinals in 2009, Kevin Garnett's distaste for Noah (and vice versa), and the ever-growing rivalry between Rose and Rajon Rondo have all built the foundation for a growing rivalry.
And within that rivalry — even if the Bulls can edge Boston for the top spot in the East — the Big Four (including the 2-1 record against Chicago this season) have a penchant for coming out on top when it matters. With their window of opportunity shrinking and the Bulls surging into the playoffs, they might have to come up with that magic one more time.
