The outcome of the games effectively stopped mattering for the Boston Celtics after their 60th win of the 2024 NBA season, having sewn up the league’s best record with the win. And when it comes to the Celtics’ visiting opponent on Sunday evening, the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers‘ concern over losing games was effectively settled when they pulled the trigger on a Damian Lillard trade in the 2024 offseason.
So for both ball clubs taking the floor at TD Garden on April 7, an emphasis on player development and staying healthy will be evident in the lengthy injury reports we will see before tipoff (as well as the unusual lineups we’ll witness after it).
Try not to read too much into the end result of the game no matter what the outcome is, and focus instead on how rarely-used players are reacting to their increased opportunities.