Standings update: Celtics wait for first round opponent

Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Boston Celtics find themselves in a peculiar position. Yes, they’re locked in to #2 in the East, but there’s a looming pessimism from throughout the league that seems to be putting a damper on Brad Stevens’ current roster. You wouldn’t know it from spending time inside the Celtics locker room though, as they seem to be using this doubt as motivation to prove everyone wrong.

So where do we currently stand, and who will be coming to Boston next weekend to kick off the post-season? Let’s discuss.

If the playoffs were to start today, the Celtics would be hosting the Milwaukee Bucks in Round One. The Bucks are currently tied in the record column with the Miami Heat, but sit in the seventh spot after the Heat swept the season series.

Miami finishes their regular season campaign with a game tonight in Oklahoma City, followed by a road matchup against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. Milwaukee on the other hand welcomes in the lottery-bound Orlando Magic tonight, before heading to Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Toronto has clinched the #1 seed in the East, but are still playing for HCA vs. the Warriors if they were to meet in the Finals. The Sixers are still holding off the Cavaliers for #3. As you can see, the six and seven seeds are far from concrete.

Let’s not forget about the current 8-seed, and potentially the scariest opponent of the bottom three, the Washington Wizards. Washington sits one game back of Miami and Milwaukee. Washington will face the Celtics at Capital One Arena on Tuesday night, before wrapping up their season in Orlando on Wednesday. Despite four losses in a row, Washington represents a dangerous first round opponent. With John Wall recently returning from injury, they now have a fully healthy roster, something they haven’t had in months. If the Celtics want to avoid the Wizards, a win on Tuesday night would go a long way.

We’ll just have to wait and see how the next three days pan out, but who do you think the Celtics will end up facing this weekend?