Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
If the Detroit Pistons steal the top seed in the Eastern Conference - the spot widely assumed to belong to the Boston Celtics - the next two weeks will likely have a lot to do with it.
Starting tonight the Celtics get a small taste of life in the Western Conference. The Celtics hit the road for games against the San Antonio Spurs (44-22) tonight, Houston Rockets (46-20) on Tuesday, Dallas Mavericks (44-23) on Wednesday, and New Orleans Hornets (44-21) on Saturday.
Next week the Celtics return to the TD Banknorth Garden to play host to the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and the Hornets.
It should also be noted that each of those Western Conference opponents are jockeying for playoff position. The top eight teams in the West are separated by less than five games.
As if the games weren’t going to be challenge enough, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers will be trying to work in playing time for new additions P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell.
Brown has played in five games since signing with the Celtics on February 27. Cassell, who was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers, has played in three games since signing on March 4.
“It's going to be tough to work guy into a rotation in that trip, but we're going to," Rivers said last Wednesday.
The Pistons begin this week 4.5 games behind the Celtics.
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