« Reply #109 on: May 17, 2022, 04:48:04 PM »
Tanking is bad karma. The absolute earliest I'd start thinking about it is Game 81. If at that point it makes sense to rest the starters for a couple of games, maybe you think about it.
But really, this team has shown that it absolutely thrives on momentum. I worry about the signal that taking the foot off the gas sends to the team, and how they react to it, consciously or subconsciously. Plus, other teams should be scared of us, not the reverse. If we end up playing BRK, hit them in the mouth, win that series, and have an easier series in the second round.
I commented on this in another thread. Our single focus should be to keep the Mojo going. Coasting into the playoffs may jeopardize the mojo. Don't take the mojo for granted.
As to seedings, you don't know that BKN won't be the 8 seed, beat MIA in the first round, and then be there for us in the second. Is that better than MIL or PHI in the second round? And you don't know that CHI won't be a tough out in the 4-5 match up.
No, don't get cute with trying to position yourself. Just play hard to the end. If someone needs rest, give them rest, don't be stupid, but play for the mojo.
Everything worked out the way it worked out. We ended up with home court against MIL and that may or may not have made the difference (I think we probably beat MIL anyway). I think the Celtics played this right for the most part. As I said, if someone needs rest, rest them, don't be stupid, but don't give away games just to maneuver in the standings. The one question that I still have is what the heck happened for that game in TOR where we didn't play anyone and ended up losing? I suspect there were vaccine issues.
But had we won that game, we may have been able to catch MIA. Again, at this point, I am not that worried about it. Home court would be nice but it may not turn out to be a determining factor in this series. From where we were in December, you can't ask for more at this point, so I am not complaining. Just the opposite, I am thrilled to be where we are right now. We are a little beat up but still got the mojo going.
I'm glad we didn't get the 1st seed and have a cake walk to the ECF. The road we took helped the young guys gain some experience they wouldn't have earned play ATL and Philly. The amount of confidence and growth from having to battle some of the best in the EC will pay dividends for the years to come.
We're taking a huge leap this year. In the past we thought maybe JT and JB finally arrived, but I think now more than ever it has become a reality.
How they respond tonight will say a lot but I also think they're coming out of that Milwaukee series with a ton of confidence and feeling like they figured some things out. That's great to have.
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