Game 44 Preview: Celtics at Wizards

Things are going down for the Celtics, but Brad Stevens keeps looking up.

Winter break is over, which means The Green Team is back.

Over the last four weeks, this Celtics team has taken a turn for the worse -- or in the minds of most, taken a turn for the better if you're talking about the NBA Draft Lottery.

The C's have lost 15 of their last 17 games and have fallen from first-place in the Atlantic Division to the fourth-worst record in the Eastern Conference.

Courtney Lee walked out that door, and Jerryd Bayless, who will miss the next 7-10 days with a right toe injury, walked in. Rajon Rondo finally returned at exactly the halfway point of the season. Keith Bogans has been excused from the team. Marshon Brooks and Jordan Crawford were shipped out to the Golden State Warriors, and Joel Anthony shipped up to Boston. And lastly, Chris Johnson and Vander Blue were signed out of the NBDL to 10-day contracts.

Phew.

Through it all, head coach Brad Stevens has kept it cool and carried on through his first grueling stretch as an NBA head coach.

Tonight, the road does not get any easier for his Celtics (14-29). They're in our nation's capital tonight to take on the Washington Wizards (20-20).

Washington has played well of late, winning six of its last nine games. Their improved defense has been the key to their recent success. They've given up 96.3 points per game, an improvement over their season average of 99.2.

What will make tonight's game even more of a challenge for Stevens and company is the absence of both Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo. Rondo will rest tonight as he continues to progress in his return from a torn ACL. Meanwhile, Bradley sprained his right ankle in last night's loss to the Miami Heat.

Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Phil Pressey
Gerald Wallace
Jeff Green
Kris Humphries
Jared Sullinger

Wizards:
John Wall
Bradley Beal
Trevor Ariza
Nene
Marcin Gortat

Keys to the game:

1. Green and Ariza: In their meeting at the TD Garden back on December 21, Trevor Ariza owned Jeff Green. Ariza led the Wizards with 27 points on 9-of-18 from the floor. He also had 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. Green, on the other hand, shot an abysmal 4-of-13 and finished with a -10, the worst on the team for the game. With the C's shorthanded and in desperate need of a victory, it's time for Green to put the team on his back.

2. Don't let everyone beat you: In all likelihood, John Wall and Bradley Beal are probably going to get whatever they want tonight. But that doesn't mean the C's should cave in and let Washington's other three starters have it easy. This starting five is very good. They're seventh in the NBA in points per game at 73.3. Boston cannot let Washington utilize all of its weapons.