Celtics Playoff Seeding Thread

[mef730]

Ahh, now I have a place to go since I don't have to spend much time in the BKN thread.

Of course, this has to be the game where Durant gets injured and GS can't close out the Wizards. Oh well.

Mike

[jpotter33]

 Team            Record  Games Back

1. Cleveland     41-17    0
2. Boston         38-22    4
3. Washington  35-23    6
4. Toronto        36-24    6
5. Atlanta         33-26    8.5
6. Indiana        31-29    11
7.Chicago         30-30    12
8. Detroit         29-31    13
9. Miami           27-33    15
10. Milwaukee   26-32    15
11. Charlotte    26-34    16

Important Seeding Games Tonight:

Cleveland at Boston

Washington at Toronto

Philadelphia at Miami

Dallas at Atlanta

Detroit at New Orleans

Indiana at San Antonio


The Boston/Cleveland and Toronto/Washington games are especially important tonight. If we have any hope of challenging the Cavs for the number one seed, it's virtually necessary for us to win tonight's game, otherwise they'd have an almost insurmountable 5 game lead on us.

But it's also very important to win to keep one of Washington or Toronto at bay. If we lose, then the winner of the Washington/Toronto game will only be one game behind us, which isn't good. However, if we win then we ensure that we keep both of those teams at 2 games behind us and one at 3 games behind us.

Tonight's results in these two games will go a long way in deciding the actual playoff seeding at the top of the conference.

[mef730]

Even worse, Toronto was 3-1 versus us this season, and Washington is 2-1 with a game to play. I don't want it to come down to tie breakers.

Mike

[jpotter33]

 Great overall night for the Celtics seeding purposes. We really needed this game with Washington winning two difficult games in a row that they should've probably lost. We keep them at bay with a 2 game lead, and we're back to 3 full games above Toronto. Best yet, we're back within 3 games of overtaking Cleveland for the number one spot

Team            Record  Games Back

1. Cleveland     41-18    0
2. Boston         39-22    3
3. Washington  36-23    5
4. Toronto        36-25    6
5. Atlanta         34-26    7.5
6. Indiana        31-30    11
7.Chicago         30-30    11.5
8. Detroit         29-32    13
9. Miami           28-33    14
10. Milwaukee   26-33    15
11. Charlotte    26-34    15.5

Important Seeding Games Tonight:

Cleveland at Boston

Washington at Toronto

Philadelphia at Miami

Dallas at Atlanta

Detroit at New Orleans

Indiana at San Antonio

[SHAQATTACK]

We need Hawks to beat Le Whiner on Wed

[mef730]

I suppose I should be rooting for Toronto tonight?

Mike

[MattyIce]

I suppose I should be rooting for Toronto tonight?

Mike

I know I am...unless someone supports the counter well enough, if so please do before game

[jpotter33]

I suppose I should be rooting for Toronto tonight?

Mike

I think I will be. I prefer both Washington and Toronto at 3 games away than Washington at 2 and Toronto at 4.

I still think it's going to be really tough for Washington to catch up with us if we play good ball the rest of the way, but I'd still prefer a bit more separation than just two games.

[jpotter33]

Team            Record  Games Back

1. Cleveland     41-18    0
2. Boston         39-22    3
3. Washington  36-23    5
4. Toronto        36-25    6
5. Atlanta         34-26    7.5
6. Chicago        31-30    11
7. Indiana         31-30    11
8. Detroit         29-32    13
9. Miami           28-33    14
10. Milwaukee   26-33    15
11. Charlotte    26-35    16

Important Seeding Games Tonight:

Celtics at Lakers

Toronto at Washington

Cleveland at Atlanta

Miami at Orlando

Clippers at Bucks


There are several more relevant games for seeding purposes tonight. But three in particular are especially important. We should win tonight in LA, and if Atlanta could somehow pull out a win against Cleveland (remember, Atlanta beat Cleveland in Cleveland earlier in the season) tonight, we'd be within two games of them for the first seed with a game against Cleveland in Boston still to go. Atlanta has the bigs down low and the perimeter D to give Cleveland issues, so it's not that much of a stretch.

As for the Toronto at Washington game, this one is a bit of a toss-up. Without Lowry, it's doubtful that Toronto will catch up to us. And it's still doubtful that Washington catches up to us with their really tough schedule remaining. On the other hand, Washington is still probably a better second round matchup for us than Toronto, but currently Toronto is three games back of us compared to just two games back of us in Washington.

So it's really a toss-up. I'll probably be rooting for a Toronto win tonight to keep both teams at 3 games away from us rather than Toronto 4 games away and Washington 2 games away, assuming that we do in fact win tonight. But rooting for a Washington win tonight to better ensure a 2/3 matchup with Boston and Washington is rational, too.

[Denis998]

Team            Record  Games Back

1. Cleveland     41-18    0
2. Boston         39-22    3
3. Washington  36-23    5
4. Toronto        36-25    6
5. Atlanta         34-26    7.5
6. Chicago        31-30    11
7. Indiana         31-30    11
8. Detroit         29-32    13
9. Miami           28-33    14
10. Milwaukee   26-33    15
11. Charlotte    26-35    16

Important Seeding Games Tonight:

Celtics at Lakers

Toronto at Washington

Cleveland at Atlanta

Miami at Orlando

Clippers at Bucks


There are several more relevant games for seeding purposes tonight. But three in particular are especially important. We should win tonight in LA, and if Atlanta could somehow pull out a win against Cleveland (remember, Atlanta beat Cleveland in Cleveland earlier in the season) tonight, we'd be within two games of them for the first seed with a game against Cleveland in Boston still to go. Atlanta has the bigs down low and the perimeter D to give Cleveland issues, so it's not that much of a stretch.

As for the Toronto at Washington game, this one is a bit of a toss-up. Without Lowry, it's doubtful that Toronto will catch up to us. And it's still doubtful that Washington catches up to us with their really tough schedule remaining. On the other hand, Washington is still probably a better second round matchup for us than Toronto, but currently Toronto is three games back of us compared to just two games back of us in Washington.

So it's really a toss-up. I'll probably be rooting for a Toronto win tonight to keep both teams at 3 games away from us rather than Toronto 4 games away and Washington 2 games away, assuming that we do in fact win tonight. But rooting for a Washington win tonight to better ensure a 2/3 matchup with Boston and Washington is rational, too.

Hopefully the top 4 teams remain seeded as they are, dont want to play toronto if we dont have to. Smart and Bradley can effectively neutralize Wall and Beal if need be if we face them in the 2nd round.

[jpotter33]

https://twitter.com/mcten/status/838171256553885698

Lebron and Kyrie both resting tonight vs the Heat. Should be a chance to pick up another half game on Cleveland. If they lose in Miami tonight and we win tomorrow in Phoenix, we'll only be two games back of them for the number one seed (1 win, 3 losses).

[green_bballers13]

Yeah, 40-22 is very solid. They need to keep beating the scrub teams- plenty of them left on the schedule.

A #2 seeding firmly places the Celtics as a top 6 team in the NBA this year. This would exceed my expectations for the team. Throw in two potential top 4 picks in successive years- there are few teams positioned better for the future than the Celtics.

[jpotter33]

So far so good. Milwaukee up 11 on Toronto at the half, and Miami up 17 on Cleveland at the half.

[jpotter33]

Oh boy, Carroll just sprained his ankle. Toronto can ill afford losing anymore players for any significant time. They might be lucky to keep home court advantage at this rate if Carroll is out for any significant amount of time.

[SHAQATTACK]

LeBron resting losing games

Celtics still play n hard.....nobody resting.