Do the Celtics go all out for seed #2 or rest their starters?

[PseudoElite]

Chicago have secured the 1st seed, and with the recent spanking of the Celtics things aren't looking too great in Boston. However all is not lost.
Current standings as of 4/9/11:

Boston  W 55  L 24
Miami   W 55  L 24

As you can see, both are tied but Boston holds the tiebreaker because of a 3-0 series advantage thus far.

What is more interesting though (and very unexpected)...

Boston  W 55  L 24
LA Lakers W 55  L 24

Celtics are also tied with the Lakers, season series is tied at 1-1.

Upcoming schedule for all teams:

BOS: BOS @ MIA, BOS @ WAS, NYK @ BOS
MIA: BOS @ MIA, MIA @ ATL, MIA @ TOR
LAL: OKC @ LAL, SAS @ LAL, LAL @ SAC

The Lakers were bulldozing through their schedule but they've stumbled recently with a 4 loss streak. The Boston vs Miami game Sunday will likely decide who gets the no.2 seed in the East.

Boston now has an excellent chance to get HCA over both Miami AND the Lakers if they get to the finals. There are no guarantees that both the Celtics and Lakers make it to the finals, but wouldn't Boston be that much better off with the peace of mind of knowing they have HCA over all the Western teams except SA?

So the question for you all is:

a) Should Doc and the Celtics go all out in the last 3 games, risking increased fatigue, and hoping that LAL loses at least 1 more game to get a potential HCA advantage?

b) Or because the Celtics are so old (they are, let's face it), will they stumble again or choose to cruise to the playoffs, choosing health over homecourt for the rest of the playoffs past round 1. 

I personally hope A is the answer obviously, but perhaps my green colored glasses are clouding my judgement.

Your thoughts?

[celticinorlando]

if they win tomorrow then yes. they would only need to split the last 2 games inorder to secure the 2...so beat miami and the wiz...they can rest vs the knicks

IF they lose tomorrow...then rest them the last 2 games because getting the 2 seed is out

[Prof. Clutch]

I think the Celtics should try to win each and every game left in the regular season and enter the playoffs with the greatest momentum possible.

Of course not at the expense of playing all of our starters near 40 minutes like against Washington last night.

[manbehindtheman]

I think the Celtics should try to win each and every game left in the regular season and enter the playoffs with the greatest momentum possible.

Of course not at the expense of playing all of our starters near 40 minutes like against Washington last night.

i'm going tohave to agree with this assessment...try to win every game, but don't get the frail players get injured before playoffs start.

[LooseCannon]

IF they lose tomorrow...then rest them the last 2 games because getting the 2 seed is out

Well, the Celtics still have a chance to be the 2 seed if Miami beat Boston but then lose on the road at Atlanta (a bit of a roller-coaster team that might be seeking to enter the playoffs with some momentum even though they are locked into the #5 seed).  Since they hold the tie-breaker, the Celtics get the #2 seed if both teams go 2-1 over the final three games.

So, pop quiz, on a scale of 1-10, where 1 is not even playing the starters and 10 is being willing to play the starters 40+ minutes the way you might in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, if Miami beats Boston but then loses to Atlanta so that the Celtics would have HCA against Miami, how hard should Doc try to beat the Knicks?

[snowball]

i don't even think they should be suiting up.
like to see them have time off to contemplate
on going for ALL THE MARBLES again.

[Donoghus]

Win tomorrow.

Win Monday.

Rest Wednesday.

[EJPLAYA]

I really don’t think getting the third seed and having to match up against the Knicks is a very smart way to start the championship run. We really need to match up against the Sixers so that we have a legit shot at being able to allow Shaq as much time to heal as possible. The Knicks are playing very good ball right now and we are not. This smells like a possible 1st round ouster if we aren’t careful. It shouldn’t happen, but it could… Not the case with the Sixers. We beat them in 5 at most.

[Surferdad]

I think the Celtics should try to win each and every game left in the regular season and enter the playoffs with the greatest momentum possible.

Of course not at the expense of playing all of our starters near 40 minutes like against Washington last night.

i'm going tohave to agree with this assessment...try to win every game, but don't get the frail players get injured before playoffs start.

I definitely agree as well.  Win now even at the risk of fatigue later.  However, one frail player that will not play is Shaq.  I was hoping to see him back for the Miami game which would have been fun.     

[celticinorlando]

win sunday and monday...sit vs the knicks...and allow the knicks to win so you ensure a first round match up with the sixers