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Splash House is like a music festival, pool party, and weekend vacation all in one. So it’s no wonder why thousands of bikini-wearing women and shirtless dudes flock to the desert in Palm Springs to be a part of the action each year. The festival hosts three separate events every summer — each of which offers a slew of epic electronic music performances and loads of good vibes.

Most recently, from August 12th to 14th, the lineup featured Dabin, Dombresky, John Summit, Nora En Pure, Polo & Pan (DJ Set), Elohim, Franc Moody, and more. In other words, it was the epitome of an iconic summer rager.

If you’re holding onto the last weeks of summer, let these photos keep you hyped for the remainder of the season. Scroll through the shots of Splash House below, and you’ll be ready to hit the pool with your crew in no time.

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• These Pics From Downtown LA’s Paradise In The Park Will Motivate You For A Big Weekend
• These Photos From Mayan Warrior Austin Will Hype You Up For The Weekend
• Let These Trippy Photos From Lightning In A Bottle Get You Hyped For Your Next Festival
• These Pics From Red Bull Guest House Miami Will Energize You On Hump Day

Bullies are made, not born. Bullying traits might be picked up in a variety of ways, but violence, aggression and cruelty are most certainly learned behaviors during a child’s development.

The book “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Child and Adolescent Psychology,” co-authored by psychiatrist Jack C. Westman M.D. and science writer Victoria Costello, lists five major factors that most often lead to bullying: physical punishment, watching aggressive behavior in adults, violent television, problems with processing emotions and undiagnosed mental illness.

The underlying theme in these causes? A lack of empathy. Bullies are often taught—whether directly or subversively—that dominance and control are more vital than compassion and understanding. This results in pain for not only the intended target, but for the oppressor themselves.

Hurt people hurt people.

Photo by yang miao on Unsplash

But just as it can be learned, bullying can be unlearned—through supportive friendships, trusted role models and maybe even professional help. People are always capable of change when given the necessary tools to do so.

Recently, a Reddit user asked former bullies (and former “mean girls,” for as we all know this is not necessarily a gender-specific phenomenon) to share what “finally brought a change.”

The answers were inspiring. They not only showed that yes, the adage is true, “hurt people hurt people,” but also that powerful transformation can happen simply by taking accountability. Many of these former bullies admitted to growing up in less-than-ideal environments and did not know any other way to cope. But eventually they were given fresh insight, and with that were better able to choose kindness.

The world might seem like a cold and uncaring place at times, but these 10 stories are a beautiful reminder that change is always possible.

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“Wasn’t really a bully but I wasn’t nice either. I…was mean to people who I thought deserved it, and it didn’t help that there were also other people who were just as mean and judgmental as I was. It got to the point that I was needlessly fighting my friends and only when I was confronted about my attitude and I got to hear my friend’s perspective that I shifted.

…Took a lot of time and educated myself on how to be better. Also therapy lol. Anger management, anxiety management, etc. I couldn’t erase who I was and I accept that part of me. I’m not saying I’m all perfect now…I know there’s still a lot of work to do, but all in all it’s loads better than before. I’m glad I had the chance to grow up and get better.” – @AnxiousCrownNinja

“Right after high school was the turning point for me… I was having a lot of discord with my own friends due to my attitude and it took hearing their honest feedback about how my approach was alienating them for me to start doing major self reflection. I decided I didn’t want people to fear me and I certainly didn’t want to alienate my own friends, so I started talking less and listening more. I made an honest effort to care more about people as individuals-I got interested in the unique strengths each person brings to the table and did what I could to start learning from others. I humbled myself a lot over the years. I worked on saying I’m sorry and admitting when I was wrong. And years later I’ve gotten into therapy to continue to work on myself. I’ll never be warm and fuzzy as that’s just not my personality, but I’m a much better person than I was when I was younger.” – @Babhak

“Was essentially bullied at home by my family and I took it out on those around me. Thankfully I had some friends that let me know I was being a dick and I apologized to the people I hurt, I’ll always hate myself for the way I acted and I don’t think that will ever change. I still catch myself being a grumbling asshole sometimes but I will never let myself be who I used to be.” – @raikonai

“I got a job as a video game tester and worked with people who were bullied when they were younger. We’d tell stories and things I found funny they found traumatic and mean. As cliche as it is, I never thought about it from their perspective or thought my behavior was bullying until then. Helped me see it from the other side, I’m much more empathic now. Pretty ashamed about my behavior when I was younger.” – @GCJallDAY

“When I realized I was just like my dad, and I really dislike my dad.” – @kastawamy

“I come from a small town where families have generational feuds. It also didn’t help that my family is poor and very ghetto/redneck and very racially mixed. All of my aunts and uncles and parents are some form of addict in one way or another. I didn’t have a chance. I truly didn’t. The kids I went to school with weren’t allowed to hang out with me and my siblings. I remember going to a friend’s house and their parents asked me my last name and they told me to leave once they heard it. I was severely bullied in elementary school and teachers didn’t care to help because of the family I came from. I had one teacher just be vicious to me because my mom was selling her kid weed. I was pretty much feral and didn’t have manners and just in general an autistic kid.

So I quickly learned that anger was the best shield. I bullied my bullies back. They can’t catch you off guard if you’re the attacker. I fought the people who came at my family with as much violence as they gave me. It bled onto kids who were friends with my bullies. They turned into essentially collateral damage. I was a bully but I was also the blood in the water in a school system that encouraged violence. It’s taken me a long time to deal with [what] my home town put me through. I switched towns and changed my name. That helped a lot. I ended up in juvy after a giant fight with several family members. To say I was scared straight is an understatement. I was required to go to group therapy as part of the program I was put in to reform me. The judge knew my family and gave me a shot I took advantage of. He played a huge role in my mindset on my circumstance. I learned how to handle my trauma in a more productive way over the course of years and so much hard work. I ended up having to change my name so I wouldn’t be harassed by cops and those who knew my family.

I’ll definitely say this again—I grew up in a system where you had to do everything you could to survive. I can’t really stomach what I did…I’ve left apologies in so many inboxes as an adult. I’ve even made friends with some of them.” – @beastgalblue

“Over time and with new experiences, I stopped hating myself and my life. Then, I started seeing value in my existence and realized I actually impacted people. Happiness, for myself and others, became my reason for living. My middle school health teacher used to tell us that bullies are hurting and that’s why they bully. Miss Costello, wherever you are, you were right. I’ve never met a bully who was happy with themselves or their life. I tell my students all the time that hurt people hurt people, and I stand by that. The fastest way to help a bully change is to show them love, kindness, and compassion.” – @mha3620

“I was a mean girl. Cheer, popular, thought I was better than everyone else. During summer break in high school I went to camp. I was bullied by some of the other girls there so relentlessly. From hazing, to humiliating me, lying to get me in trouble. It was bad. After that I changed. Wish it was earlier.” – @lesbomommy

“I was one of those jocks who picks on the weaker kids who couldn’t really defend themselves, in order to make the crowd laugh…It was never anything too physical or over the top, so parents or others never got involved, but I know that I made life a pain for some individuals while in elementary school.

Anyhow, this PE teacher of mine took me into his office after hours one day and explained that I should try to use my authority better, and that while it might feel good to make others laugh on someone else’s behalf, it feels a lot better to be an overall good guy.

Never really had any good male influence in my life before that, so that really stuck with me, and from high school and onward I tried to reach out and confront others in school that bullied others. Oftentimes we just don’t know better.” – @KingBob3922

“I grew up in an abusive home and did it out of self-protection. Verbally hurt them before they could hurt you. I know my behavior didn’t make me popular or really make me feel better but I needed to lash out on the easiest targets. fast forward to having no friends in my mid 20 s and needed to figure out why.

I actually became friends with older coworkers [and] as a proxy parental influence they gently guided me. ‘Why would you say that to someone? Why would you say that about yourself? Why do you talk that way? Why is everything a fight? What’s wrong with being different? What’s wrong with making mistakes?’ No judgments, just gentle questions that I couldn’t answer until I looked hard at myself.

I’m glad that someone took the time to see past my anger, my pushing people away, my misery and saw a young person that just needed some kindness.” – @OrdinaryPride8811

Animals sure are fun when they’re not getting into stuff or accidentally giving you a heart attack. Take Pablo, for example. The poor boy was just trying to enjoy a relaxing nap. Like, a REALLY relaxing nap.

Pablo was just resting after a hard day of being a dog when he started sliding down the couch, seemingly lifeless. His head eventually rested on the floor below him but that wasn’t going to stop his deep sleep. Pablo’s owner, on the other hand, was not given the memo that Rip Van Winkle temporarily inhabited his dog. And that’s when panic set in.

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As soon as the dog started sliding down the couch, his owner sat up to try to rouse him but the dog continued to slide as if he was going to make a dog-shaped puddle. Of course, the dog’s slow descent down the couch startled the owner who shouted the dog’s name with fear in his voice. Groggily, the dog comes to his senses and makes his way on over to the other side of the couch to finish his nap that was so rudely interrupted by his human companion. He’s probably left wondering why his owner was freaking out over a nap.

Watch the hilarious video below:

There’s nothing wrong with asking someone where they’re from—in fact, it’s a normal conversation starter among a lot of humans around the world. The follow-ups to the initial question, however, can turn problematic quite quickly when there are racial and cultural assumptions, biases and stereotypes underlying the questioning.

Unfortunately, that’s all too often the case. Frequently, when the question is asked of non-white people in the U.S., “Where are you from?” leads to “No, where are you really from?” which then leads to an awkward ancestral analysis and an implicit “othering” that the questioner is often oblivious to.

That obliviousness isn’t charming or harmless, as a video sketch played out by actors Stella Choe and Scott Beehner shows.

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The “What Kind of Asian are You?” video from Ken Tanaka, originally released in 2013, starts with a woman on a trail stretching for a jog. A man comes up to her and starts chatting with her, and at first she seems interested. But then he almost immediately asks her where she’s from while also telling her, “Your English is perfect.”

She tells him she’s from San Diego, but by the look on her face she clearly anticipates what’s coming next. And sure enough, what follows is a predictable series of increasingly offensive questions and responses, which the character in the sketch probably just considers “friendly get-to-know-you talk.”

But when the woman turns the tables and asks him the same exact series of questions and responds with exaggerated or inaccurate cultural stereotypes, he acts like she’s the weird one.

Watch:

People who have been on the receiving end of these kinds of questions and assumptions have shared the video multiple times over the years since it came out, resulting in several waves of virality. And commenters have shared what they love about the video.

“It’s the subtle things in this that make it the more awesome,” wrote one person. “Like how she amalgamates in Irish stereotypes (Guinness, Top o’ the mornin’ to ye) with English stereotypes… the same way people like that guy mix Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc. stereotypes together as if those nations were the same thing.”

“I’d just like to point out that while a lot of you think this is a parody video and this guy is a characterized, over-the-top version of a person, it’s not,” wrote another. “This is my life (minus me jogging and being as funny back). And it’s not even a compilation of lots of mini experiences all summarized in one video to make even more of a point. In fact, if anything, I think it’s missing the part where the man then tells her about how his last 5 girlfriends were all Asian and how he has learned how to make awesome spring rolls, where he starts speaking Korean at her, and then proceeds to ask if she has a boyfriend. Because then, it would be real life.”

“This is an actual conversation I’ve had!!!” shared another. “So funny to see it here, wish I could’ve had a good comeback for it like this!”

Some people pointed out that the woman said her great-grandmother was from Seoul while the man said his grandparents were from England. That would technically make her more of “a regular American” than he is. (Unless, of course, “regular American” just means white. Ahem.)

Choe and Beehner also had some fun with the comments section, reading aloud some of the affirming as well as some of the more obtuse and/or racist responses to the original video. It’s amazing.

You can find more Ken Tanaka videos on YouTube.

Wow. Wow. Wow. This trailer for Sidney Poitier documentary Sidney is as powerful as he was. Is it weird to call a trailer a tour de force? Yes? Fine. Let’s be weird, because this thing is a TDF. Hopefully the doc, which hits Apple+ on September 23rd lives up to this hype.

Directed by Reginald Hudlin (Marshall, The Black Godfather), and featuring an incomprehensible list of famous talking heads, the film tells the life story of the actor who grew up in a shack without electricity to become a tectonic force in American culture during a period of immense upheaval. Poitier won the Oscar for Lilies of the Field and became the world’s biggest box office draw following In The Heat of the Night and Look Who’s Coming To Dinner in the late 1960s — both of which dealt directly with deep-seated racism and changing attitudes. He was consistently a pioneer, with “First Black man to…” etched multiple times throughout his biography. As President Barack Obama said while honoring Poitier with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the actor “opened doors for a generation of actors.”

Those honoring him in the Oprah-produced documentary include Spike Lee, Morgan Freeman, Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand, and many, many more. Plus, we get to hear from Poitier himself, which will be bittersweet following his death in January of this year. Fortunately, this documentary looks like a worthy celebration.

Though the internet often creates a narrative about celebrities based on their social media use, sometimes the stan accounts can be right. In the case of Megan Fox, not posting images of her husband Machine Gun Kelly for a bit has led some to believe they may have broken up. But there appears to be nothing to this speculation: TMZ has reported the couple was spotted together grabbing lunch in Brentwood on Tuesday, August 16.

Since June, the Transformers actress had noticeably not included the “Rap Devil” artist in any of her Instagram posts, despite the couple once averaging one picture together per month. The breakup rumors gained even more life when Fox did not attend her husband’s hometown show in Cleveland. However, all now seems well.

In footage obtained from the show, Kelly explains he spoke to his wife before coming out and she said, “When you’re on stage, you’re where you love to be. Don’t think about anything. You don’t have to prove anything to anybody. They all came to see you, so give them the best f***ing performance of their life.”

While those could be the words of a supportive ex-turned-friend, that clearly is not the case here. Evidently the speech had MGK so excited that he bloodied his face earlier in the show. Through the rumors, blood sharing, or bloodshed, love still wins.

Check out the clip of Machine Gun Kelly’s Cleveland show above.

The powers that be may be telling you summer is over, but the powers that be lie. Ads for fall fashion and Halloween aisles in August are but evidence of late-stage capitalism clamoring for your attention. Live in the present and get outside.

So let’s hit the beach. According to the calendar, there are 37 days of summer left — over a third of the season in its entirety. Not only is summer not over until Autumn Equinox says it’s over (Sept 22), but September and October are the unsung heroes of beach season. Especially in California.

Pesky tourists have gone. The marine layer burned off. Let’s f*cking go.

But not every cannabis product lends itself to a blissed-out beach day. Edibles can melt in the heat, hash evaporates in the sun, and rolling joints in the wind sucks. While being high at the beach is great, getting high can be harder than it sounds.

Here’s a list of beach-ready weed products to have you vibing on la playa til it’s too cold to do so.

Hoppy Chill Hi-Fi Sessions by Lagunitas

Hi-Fi Hops by Lagunitas are IPAs with weed in them instead of alcohol. They’re happy, they’re hoppy, they’re game fucking changing! All of their offerings taste like you’re drinking a beer and get you high in a bubbly way — it’s much more similar to a carbonated bevvy of the alcoholic variety.

While Hi-Fi has a ton of different flavors to choose from, I like the Hoppy Chill from their new THC:CBD ratio-based Sessions line. With 5mg THC and 5mg CBD per can, they’re balanced, relaxing, and social. But still strong enough to get you splashing in the waves.

Bottom line: Great for partying at the beach sans hangover.

Buy it here: $17 for 4-pack

Beach Crasher by Hogwash Pharms

Beach Crasher is an award-winning cultivar from Hogwash Pharms that makes you feel how weed is supposed to make you feel: lighthearted, happy, and really, really high. Grown in the hills of Humboldt by multi-generational master growers, her nugs are green and orange, dense and crystalline. The smell is a tart, tropical fruit, with a sour, spicy finish. The flavor is earthy lemon pepper.

High in the terpenes caryophyllene, limonene and myrcene, this is a strain that leaves you cruising at a higher altitude than usual. It comes with a stoney head high, red eyes, and a big smile. This flower is potent and heavy, but in a whimsical way that doesn’t lock you down. It kind of mimics the feeling of being at the beach — psychically euphoric and buoyant like water, with mental serenity. Great for getting high in the sand, feeling the sun on your skin, and watching the waves roll in.

Bottom line: The name says it all.

Buy it here: $25

Octo-taster by GRAV

GRAV is a glass brand that’s been around forever and makes pieces that feel good to smoke out of. While the new wave of arty bongs and pipes are cute, they don’t always deliver when it comes time to take a solid hit. GRAV pieces are for stoners, by stoners and I appreciate that.

The Octo-taster, essentially a hitter-shaped pipe with a rubber sleeve on it, is my staple summer adventure companion. It’s discreet, break-proof, and designed to pack and go.

What makes this rubber-clad hitter so effective at the beach is that you can hold the rubber mouthpiece in your teeth, light with one hand, and shield wind with the other. Whereas hitting a normal pipe at the beach can require a towel shield and often another human to hold it, you can use this pipe at the beach easily by yourself.

Bottom line: This life-proof little pipe is perfect for exhaling worries into the sea breeze.

Buy it here: $14

El Bluntito Rosas by El Blunto

The El Bluntito Rosas by El Blunto are some of my favorite cannabis products of 2022. Each of these little joints is meticulously rolled in organic rose petals and contains .5 g of high-quality Limoncello or Bubble Gum flower.

I’ve only tried the Limoncello, but I was completely blown away by the experience. The flower is bursting with lemon flavor, offset by a hint of floral terps from the petals. The joints burn perfectly, slowly, and evenly, which is often not the case when it comes to rose petal prerolls. El Blunto hand rolls and cures all of their products. Their attention to detail has made them a favorite in even the snootiest corners of the canna world.

While these are great for special occasions, I found them to be perfect for the beach because they burn slower than your average paper-rolled joint would, and hold up better to the wind. Plus, pretty much the cutest thing you could ever do at a beach hang is pull out a pack of these babies.

Bottom line: Sophisticated and fun, they’re as good for a wedding gift as they are for a beach picnic.

Buy it here: $45

Little Strong Drink by Pure Beauty

When it comes to Alice in Wonderland-esque weed beverages, Pure Beauty takes the auspiciously small cake with their Little Strong Drink. This 2.2 oz bev packs in 100mg of THC, making it the perfect touch of magic to top off a beachy cocktail, mocktail, or my personal favorite, bottle of seltzer.

The flavor is chic, kind of like a non-alcoholic red wine with a spicy cardamom twist. It almost tastes like mulled wine or a holiday drink when concentrated, but stretches into a mildly tart and spiced grape flavor when added to drinks. In addition to the THC, it contains ashwagandha to take the edge off, and add an anxiety-free overtone to the hyper blast of THC.

Bottom line: Great for adding a touch of magic to your everyday beach beverage.

Buy it here: $20

Solventless Cranberry Almond Granola by Kaneh Co.

The notion that edibles should be bad for you is antiquated and tied to the concept of weed being a vice as opposed to what it really is, a motherfucking virtue! Thankfully the market is maturing, and we’re beginning to see high-quality, healthy edibles hit the shelves, like Kaneh Co’s Solventless Cranberry Almond Granola.

Kaneh Co is a woman-owned edibles brand out of San Diego that has always been ahead of the curve. This granola is an amalgam of superfoods like chia seeds and hemp seeds with gluten-free oats and coconut oil, among other things. Each 100mg package contains two 50mg bars, with a dosing cutting guide, of course.

Bottom line: Perfect for maintaining your bikini body (and bikini mindset!) while snacking in the sand.

Buy it here: $20

Caramel Apple Solventless Live Rosin Vaporizer by Golden State

While I’m not much of a vaper myself, I certainly see their merit for new and casual users. Vapes are simple to use and offer a mellow experience that is hard to overdo. They’re also great for the beach, because they’re ready to hit at all times regardless of the circumstances existing around them.

If you’re a cannabis consumer of the vaper variety, Golden State’s new line of Solventless Live Rosin Vaporizers is a fantastic choice in a product genre riddled with duds. There are a few strains available. I tried the Caramel Apple, which was super peppery, earthy, and lemony. The high was perfect for melting on the sand, relaxing, and overall buzzy.

Bottom line: Perfect for the new or casual user looking for a no-fuss, mildly stoned beach experience.

Buy it here: $65

Wedding Cake Deli Greens by Caliva

While I rarely write about budget flower, I feel it’s appropriate here because certain beach days, especially party days, require you to bring a bunch of weed to share with all your friends. This weed might get sandy. It might get wet. You’ll probably lose track of the bag at some point in the day and never see it again. For days like this, bring Deli Greens.

Cheap and widely available, this Wedding Cake isn’t the best weed in the world but it’s great for sharing and not caring. The high is mildly relaxing and good for social settings.

Bottom line: The weedy equivalent of bringing a 12-pack of Coors Light to a beach party.

Buy it here: $15

Unions have been all the rage for the last handful of years now, with attempts being made in industries like video game design and car-share driving to Amazon. Now add strippers to the list. As per The Wrap, employees at a Los Angeles have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to be represented by Actors Equity, the union for live performers.

The move comes after months of protesting by the staff at the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar, located in North Hollywood:

Since March, strippers at Star Garden have protested against their employers over various issues including wage theft and a failure by the bar’s security to protect them from unruly patrons. This week, a majority of the bar’s 30 performers, with the assistance of the advocacy group Strippers United, filed to hold a unionization vote with the National Labor Relations Board. In the meantime, the strippers say they will continue protesting and organizing other workers.

Staff at the club have said their options should be better. “We like what we do,” said one of the venue’s dancers, who goes by Velveeta. “We would like our jobs even more if we had basic worker protections. We’re like so many other workers who have learned that it’s not a choice between suffering abuse or quitting. With a union, together, we can make needed improvements to our workplace.”

The majority of the Star Garden’s dancers have reportedly signed the petition. Should the unionization vote pass, they would become the first successful strippers union since the staff at the (since closed) Lusty Lady in San Francisco voted to join SEIU in 1996.

(Via The Wrap)

At long last you can take your excitement out of the proving drawer. It has fully risen, and it’s time to bake. After 12 seasons of The Great British Bake Off (also known as The Great British Baking Show in the United States because Pillsbury owns the phrase “bake-off” apparently), an American version is coming to Roku.

The Great American Baking Show (still not a bake-off!) will still feature chef Paul Hollywood and restauranteur Prue Leith as the judges. Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and Zach Cherry (Severance and all around That Guy) are set to host. It’s a solid combination. Cherry has a dry stoner wit perfect for a show about copious amounts of baked goods, and Kemper is bright, sunny, and versatile. That follows the classic mold of the British series, and it’s a good signal that producers are trying to maintain the good vibes instead of fully Americanizing it into a flour-fueled circus where people “aren’t there to make friends.”

Another good signal? Roku Head of Alternative Originals Brian Tannenbaum saying they wanted good vibes only. “Our adaptation of the iconic series will continue to dish out the enduring warmth and humor that fans of the Baking Show universe love, with a twist that we know Ellie and Zach will deliver,” he said in a press release.

The series of 60-minute episodes will premiere in 2023, so you have plenty of time to prepare to get cozy.

The 2022-23 schedule for all 30 NBA teams has finally been released, and it allows fans the opportunity to start marking their calendars and planning around the can’t miss games on the schedule. While not every team shares the same goals for the 2022-23 season, they all have games where fans will be circling dates and trying to make sure they’re in the building for or at least able to watch on TV, and here we are going to highlight five such games for each team.

Here, we’ll look at the reigning Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, who spent their offseason addressing the biggest weakness that was exposed in their Finals run by getting another ball-handling option in Malcolm Brogdon (without having to give up a rotation player in the deal). While it wasn’t all smooth sailing in the Celtics offseason — the trade rumors connecting them to a Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant swap that might not be totally dead takes a bit away from the great vibes they ended the year with — they enter this year as the favorites in the East for good reason.

October 21, 2022: at Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

After a season opener at home against Philly (which will be a big one, obviously), the Celtics hit the road to face the Heat team they narrowly escaped in the conference finals. Miami has had a quiet offseason to this point and that’s kept them from being a focal point of discussion, but this is still a team that will provide a stern test and knows how to frustrate Boston’s offense.

December 12/13, 2022: at Los Angeles Clippers/Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. ET, NBCSN/TNT)

I’m going to cheat here a bit and combine two games. This is the end of a brutal road trip that goes Brooklyn-Toronto-Phoenix, then their first matchup with Golden State, before this back-to-back in L.A. to cap off a rather miserable 9-day road trip. The Clippers very well could be a top-2 seed in the West, while the Lakers are looking to bounce back into being a title contender themselves. In any case, how the Celtics respond at the end of a long road trip against two good teams might tell us a bit about their fortitude a year after a Finals run.

December 25, 2022: vs. Milwaukee Bucks (5:00 p.m. ET, ABC)

The Celtics get to host a Christmas Day game this year by virtue of being the East champs and get a rematch of last year’s Christmas showdown in Milwaukee against the team many think represents their biggest challenge in the conference. These two teams, as we saw last year in a thrilling playoff series, matchup incredibly closely and it makes for great basketball, and this could be a gem in the middle of the Christmas lineup.

January 19, 2023: vs. Golden State Warriors (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

This is the second game for the Celtics against the team that beat them in the Finals, with the first coming in the middle of that hellacious road trip mentioned earlier. This one will be festive in Boston, and the Celtics have a couple days off beforehand so they might be in better shape than the first meeting. In any case, they’ll have this one circled as a chance to send a message prior to the All-Star break.

April 4, 2023: at Philadelphia 76ers (8:00 p.m. ET, TNT)

The last big road game of the year sends Boston to Philly for what could be a game with real seeding implications. For all the Sixers postseason struggles, they’ve been a fixture atop the East standings in recent years and if Boston’s going to nab a top-seed, they very well may need this game. It also is the last really big game (with all due respect to a back-to-back with Toronto and a finale against Atlanta) on the regular season schedule for the Celtics, and could be a spot where they ramp it up one last time, even if seeding isn’t in doubt.