Celtics schedule 2013: Facing old friends on Nets, Clippers highlights season

Miami hosts Boston Nov. 9 and Jan. 21 and heads to the T.D. Garden March 19.

Dec. 11 vs. Clippers -- Rivers returns to Boston after a unique parting with the team in the middle of his current contract. How the Celtics fans react will be a storyline to watch, at least if some of them hold the same perspective of the new Clippers coach as ESPN’s Bill Simmons.

Jan. 26 vs. Brooklyn -- The return of Pierce and Garnett to Boston should be equally as exciting, if only because the starters will probably be playing heavier minutes. Rondo likes the spotlight, and this game on ESPN should provide just that.

April 14 at Philadelphia -- Boston would never admit it publicly, but the team’s rebuilding efforts would be greatly accelerated by a high pick in a 2014 NBA Draft that’s supposedly loaded. That’s what makes an end-of-season matchup with the 76ers interesting. Philadelphia is another rebuilding team with their eye on Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle and the rest of college basketball’s top prospects. Could this game determine who gets more ping-pong balls in the lottery? Boston would seem to have more talent on paper, but one injury could change things.

The Celtics have 20 back-to-backs, a considerable amount, but should be able to handle the schedule with a young roster. The biggest challenge of the season will likely come during the team’s longest road trip of the year, which spans from Jan. 5 to Jan. 11. Coach Brad Stevens’ team not only stuffs a lot of games together but has them against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers.

With the Blazers as the exception, all appear to be locks to make the playoffs, and the Thunder, Clippers and Warriors could arguably be three of the four best teams in the Western Conference, with the Spurs also being in the conversation, of course.

From Jan. 29 to the end of February, the Celtics should have time to settle in. Of 12 games, it’s possible only three or so are against winning teams. Boston plays San Antonio, Dallas, Los Angeles and Atlanta, and neither of the last three are guaranteed success. The Celtics have seven games against Philadelphia, Orlando, Phoenix, Sacramento and Utah, all of whom will be amongst the bottom of the NBA.

That all fails to mention the All-Star break in the middle of the easiest part of Boston’s schedule.

Back-to-backs: 20

Season opener: Oct. 30 at Toronto

Home opener: Nov. 1 vs. Bucks

Longest road trip: 5 games (Jan. 5 - Jan. 11)

Longest homestand: 5 games (Dec. 11-21 and Feb. 26 - March 9 )