Boston Celtics Home - Second of Back-to-Back Betting Trend

The Celtics' struggles as home favorites on the second night of back-to-backs stem from a combination of physical fatigue and psychological complacency. Boston's historically deep rotations under Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla often mask regular season fatigue, but the compressed recovery time between games exposes their reliance on veteran leadership and precision execution. When legs are heavy, the Celtics' three-point shooting—their primary offensive weapon—becomes inconsistent, while their switching defense loses the quick rotations that make it effective. The psychological element is equally damaging. Playing at TD Garden with favorable betting lines creates a false sense of security after already expending emotional energy the previous night. This is particularly problematic for a team that has cultivated a championship mentality, as they can subconsciously coast against perceived inferior opponents when not at full strength. The franchise's emphasis on load management in recent years has actually worked against them in these spots, as role players who might typically step up are often the ones being rested, leaving a shortened rotation to handle back-to-back duties. This trend carries the most weight when Boston faces teams with nothing to lose—lottery-bound squads or desperate playoff contenders who view catching the Celtics tired as their best opportunity for an upset.