The summer forecast begins today with the question, how many games will the Celtics win this season?  Forsberg predicted the the Celtics will win 56 games, while I predicted 54, and Jay, 52. (ESPN Boston)

Chris Forsberg, ESPN Boston (56 wins)

 

The Celtics were so frustratingly inconsistent over the final four months of the 2009-10 season, it seems impossible for their win total not to climb next year. Let’s remember that Boston played .500 ball over the final 54 games of the season (going 27-27 after a 23-5 start) and, admittedly, went into “get healthy” mode while stumbling to the finish line (and all but ceding the third seed in the Eastern Conference along the way). It’s impossible to think the Celtics will be worse at home, where they dropped a staggering 17 games at the TD Garden. This after losing 12 home games combined over the first two seasons that the Big Three were united. That said, it’s also unlikely the Celtics can be as dominant on the road, where they put together a 26-15 mark, tying Cleveland for the second-best road record in the league behind only Dallas (27-14). Playing in a cupcake Atlantic Division where second-place Toronto lost its best players and three sub-30-win teams (New York, Philadelphia, and New Jersey) are likely to improve only marginally, Boston could easily challenge for 60 wins if it stays healthy. Let’s remember this team won 66 and 62 games, respectively, the previous two seasons. Health will dictate exactly how this team fares, but a six-win upgrade seems reasonable (and necessary for the playoff seedings that we’ll examine tomorrow).

To read Jay’s reasoning, and the answers of the rest of the Celtics bloggers, check out the summer forecast. Don’t forget to check back each day to read our answers to some of the more pressing questions concerning the Boston Celtics during the upcoming season.