The Celtics' Preseason Trip: Battling Jet Lag with Science

Imagine flying halfway around the world for just a couple of games. That's what the Boston Celtics are doing, and it's not just about playing basketball. They're also dealing with a big challenge: jet lag. To help, the team has a secret weapon: science. The players are being told how much to sleep, when to wake up, and even what supplements to take. But is it easy? Not really. Some players find it hard to follow all the rules. Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White had a longer trip for the Olympics, so their bodies could adjust better. This time, they won't be in Abu Dhabi long enough for that. The team's performance coach, Phil Cole, says they need to trick their bodies into thinking it's daytime even when it feels like night. That means getting outside and being active during what would normally be sleep time back home.

Payton Pritchard, one of the Celtics guards, woke up super early in Abu Dhabi time and struggled to go back to sleep. He knows he'll be tired later, but he's ready to fight it. The team will fly back on a red-eye flight after their game, which means they can sleep during the trip. When they land in Boston, they'll wake up for breakfast an hour before touchdown. Then, they'll have a nap back home and take a day off before getting back to training camp.

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