Inside The Celtics

Celtics' Preseason Schedule Includes Home-and-Home vs. Sixers

The Celtics open preseason play against the Sixers on Oct. 8.

Bobby Krivitsky

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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SI Sportsbook lists the Celtics as co-favorites with the Denver Nuggets to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy this season. Both have +450 odds.

Boston shook up the core of its roster this offseason, trading Marcus Smart and acquiring Kristaps Porzingis.

The hope is Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown take on even more of a leadership role in the absence of Smart, a nine-year veteran who had been the Celtics' longest-tenured player and the heart and soul of the team.

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Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Another motivating factor in the difficult decision to trade Smart was that with Derrick White starting and most often closing games at point guard and Porzingis added, there are reasons to be optimistic about Boston improving a crunch-time offense that has plagued it the last couple of postseasons.

Other off-season moves the Celtics made include hiring two of the NBA's top assistant coaches, Sam Cassell and Charles Lee, and Grant Williams joining the Mavericks in a sign-and-trade.

There was also inking Brown to the most lucrative contract in NBA history, a deal that makes him ineligible to get traded before or during the coming campaign.

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Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

And while the preseason will provide more of an opportunity to evaluate rookie Jordan Walsh, one of the best players at Summer League but someone who at least enters training camp behind Sam Hauser and Oshae Brissett, Boston's exhibition slate's a chance to see how much zone defense the C's deploy and how creative they get with it.

The Celtics' preseason schedule starts with a home-and-home series against the Sixers. Boston hosts its division rival at TD Garden on Oct. 8, then faces them in Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 11.

After that, the Celtics square off with the Hornets at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 19.

As soon as Boston's fourth and final preseason game gets announced, Inside The Celtics will update this article to include details on that matchup.

Further Reading

Dwyane Wade Discusses Jayson Tatum's Next Step, Him and Jaylen Brown's Challenge, Heat Culture, Pat Riley, Damian Lillard, and Life After Basketball

Derrick White on Signing Extension with Celtics: 'I Love Being Here in Boston'

Free-Agent Sharpshooter Reportedly Receives Offer from Celtics

As Celtics Fill Out Roster, Lakers Make Intriguing Option Available

After Jaylen Brown's Extension, Could Celtics Complete Blockbuster Deal for Damian Lillard?

Jaylen Brown Doesn't Want Celtics' Defensive Identity to 'Go Out the Door' With Marcus Smart

Jaylen Brown Wants Record-Setting Contract with Celtics to Spark Revolutionary Goals

Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement

Sam Cassell Discusses What Brought Him Back to Boston and What He'll Bring to the Celtics

Marcus Smart Reflects on His Time with Celtics: 'I Left Everything I Had'

Evaluating Celtics' Options in Free Agency

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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