Three Big Questions Ahead Of Celtics-warriors

Will Boston be ready to compete? 

This may sound like a dumb question, but there’s some merit to it. Will Boston be ready to compete against a Golden State team missing some of its biggest names?

Stephen Curry and Celtics champion Al Horford were both out in Golden State’s win against the Wizards on Monday.

Golden State started De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard, Draymond Green and Gui Santos. No disrespect to that group — they’re all solid role players, but they don’t have the talent to beat Boston if the Celtics take the game seriously.

In recent years, there have been games where opponents were missing two or three starters, yet the Celtics still struggled more than expected. At the end of the day, rotation players are still very good, and they’re competing for more playing time and potentially their next contract.

It’s imperative that Boston doesn’t look at the Warriors’ lineup and assume it will be a walk in the park. If they do, they could find themselves in trouble late in the game.

Will Jayson Tatum continue to play more than 30 minutes? 

Since returning to the lineup, Jayson Tatum played exactly 27 minutes in each of his first three games against Dallas, Cleveland and San Antonio.

Against Washington, he checked out at the 27-minute mark, but head coach Joe Mazzulla reinserted Tatum and the starters as the Wizards made a run. That marked the first time this season Tatum surpassed 30 minutes.

On Monday, Tatum played 32 minutes in a win against Phoenix in a game that was close late. The question now is whether he will log 30-plus minutes for a third straight game.

The opponent could factor into that decision. If Boston builds a comfortable lead, it may make sense to limit his playing time. However, with playoff seeding still at stake, a close game could push the coaching staff to extend him and evaluate how his body responds.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Tatum is held under 30 minutes, but the team appears to be doing a deliberate job gradually ramping him up to ensure he’s in game shape for the playoffs.

Can Boston continue to protect home court? 

After completing their road trip, this game marks Boston’s third straight home game before traveling to Memphis on Friday. The Celtics will then return to TD Garden for three more games against stiffer competition in Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta.

Home-court advantage matters. If Boston hopes to catch Detroit in the standings, it must continue to win at home. The Celtics are currently 23-10 at TD Garden and have challenging matchups ahead against Oklahoma City and Minnesota.

While those games won’t be easy, playing at home provides an edge. The Warriors, however, present a potential trap game if Boston looks past them — and Memphis — with two Western Conference contenders looming.