While the Celtics have hit a rough patch, the top of the East hasn't gained any ground

I know none of you want to take anything positive out of an ugly three game losing streak. I know none of you care about how other teams are performing, because as long as Boston is playing poorly, it doesn't seem to matter -- but it does.

Despite allowing the Hawks (one game back) and the Wizards (one and a half games back) to close in on the three seed, the top dogs in the East haven't gained any ground on the Celtics. Cleveland is on a two game losing streak, and Toronto has lost four straight. Check out their recent cold stretches:

Cleveland (2-5):
-Loss to Pelicans
-Loss to Spurs
-Win over Suns
-Loss to Warriors
-Win over Kings
-Loss to Trail Blazers
-Loss to Jazz

Toronto (0-4):
-Loss to Spurs
-Loss to Hornets
-Loss to Suns
-Loss to Sixers

In fact, the Raptors are winless since our old friend Jared Sullinger has returned:

Crazy thing is the Celtics have lost no ground during this skid to the Raptors, who have gone 0-4 since Jared Sullinger was activated.

— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) January 25, 2017

So yes, the Celtics are playing piss poor basketball lately. Losing to the Knicks, Trail Blazers, and Wizards is by no means ideal, but it could be worse. Boston is still in a position to at least fight for the two seed and possibly even the top of the East, as they are only a game and a half behind Toronto and four and a half behind Cleveland coming into tonight's contest with the Rockets.


Follow Erik Johnson on Twitter: @erikjohnson32

Photo by Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network