If you are a Boston Celtics fan pulling for newcomer Evan Fournier to push the Mean Green Machine over the top, you might have to wait a little longer:

Acquired from the Orlando Magic at a relative bargain for two future second-round picks, Evan Fournier was seen as a desperately needed source of low-maintenance offense, able to plug and play as a starter. In limited time thus far with the Celtics, Fournier has done well, with a net +/- of +11.5 over his short tenure with the team, before suffering an injury. However, the Celtics (26-26) have merely continued to break even with Fournier joining the team, and are currently clinging for dear life to the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics WIll Miss Evan Fournier

Without Fournier's sparkplug's worth of offense in the lineup, it could be hard seeing Boston keep up with the potent offenses of the Denver Nuggets or the Portland Trailblazers, even with their All-Star duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. At the very least, Denver will be able to bully Boston inside with Nikola Jokic, while the Celtics will have to contend with a three-headed guard lineup in Portland, that can score with the best. With Kemba Walker struggling, Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, and newcomer Norman Powell will be battering Boston from three, and they'll need big nights from their two stars to keep up.

Head coach Brad Stevens could help the Celtics to eke out a win against the Los Angeles Lakers on the team's third and last stop of the road trip, but it's very easy to believe that this team could walk away from their road trip three games under .500. Luckily, they have a solid lead over the 20-32 Toronto Raptors for eligibility in this season's play-in tournament for the 7th and 8th seeds. However, this late in the season, momentum is everything.