what if the playoffs start today..we'll be facing the heat...

[hpantazo]

I agree. If its going to end, better to go down with your best shot against the heat or the bulls in the first round than losing to the pacers or Knicks in the first round

Good.  Win big or go home.  They are going to have to beat at least one of the Heat or Bulls, and if they can't do it, I am fine with them just losing in the first round, rather than teasing us for longer.

ending the Big 3 era with a rather embarrassing first round demolition at the hands of the Heat?

Yikes.

Well, my point is, if it is destined to end with the Heat (or Bulls) anyways, then get it overwith quickly.

Personally, I think the C's have a punchers chance, and the earlier they play a team like the Heat, the better off they will be, because they will be fresher, and the Heat will be less focused in the first round than they would later. 

But, if I am just being optimistic, I want to know that earlier (as does my wallet, since I will be dishing out money for playoff tickets).

[Chris]

I agree. If its going to end, better to go down with your best shot against the heat or the bulls in the first round than losing to the pacers or Knicks in the first round

Good.  Win big or go home.  They are going to have to beat at least one of the Heat or Bulls, and if they can't do it, I am fine with them just losing in the first round, rather than teasing us for longer.

ending the Big 3 era with a rather embarrassing first round demolition at the hands of the Heat?

Yikes.

Well, my point is, if it is destined to end with the Heat (or Bulls) anyways, then get it overwith quickly.

Personally, I think the C's have a punchers chance, and the earlier they play a team like the Heat, the better off they will be, because they will be fresher, and the Heat will be less focused in the first round than they would later.  

But, if I am just being optimistic, I want to know that earlier (as does my wallet, since I will be dishing out money for playoff tickets).

The other thing is, my biggest concern with this team in the playoffs is that I think they have no staying power.  I think the Big 3 can pull things together for 5 or 6 (or 7) games, but they will eventually fall apart.  But, if they can pull those games together right away, and knock out the Heat in the first round (or honestly, even give them a solid run, and make them work), I think the era will end on an up note, no matter what happens later in the playoffs.  

I wouldn't gain that same satisfaction with a first round win over another team.

[GreenFaith1819]

Well, that's why the games are played, thankfully.

I remember us facing a Lebron team back in 2009-10, too...

The games must be played.

[KGs Knee]

Well, if the playoffs started today, we'd have no chance.  The team is just not playing good ball right now.  Thankfully though, we still have time to right the ship.  Sure, it looks bleak.  Our guys aren't getting any younger.  It doesn't mean there isn't a trade that could be made to boost our chances.  And who konws?  Maybe the unthinkable could happen, and the guys we do have can get things turned around.

As far as what seed we'll end up with, and the chances we have, I wouldn't mind being the 8th seed.  If Chicago ends up as the 1 seed and Miami the 2 seed, I think we could pull the upset on Chicago.  I don't know why, but I think we matchup well with them.  Sure they've mostly had our number so far this year, but our styles are so similar, we would be in every game.

I want to avoid Miami as long as possible though.  If we do have to face them, I'd rather it be in the conference finals.  If we manage to get that far,we'd have to be playing good ball, and would likely have a whole lot more confidence by then.  I would have a lot more faith that we could beat Miami having the confidence (of just getting that far) and being on a roll (which we would have to be to get that far).

All of this is hypothetical anyways though.  A lot can happen between now and April.

[CelticsFanNC]

  We gotta make the playoffs.  Not sure what everybody else's schedule looks like but our gets really rough.

  They have to figure out their identity.  Are the gonna keep walking the ball up the court while the starters are in there and then trying to run the rest of the time?

 Doc needs to mix up the line up.  Get Wilcox or someone who can run and rebound out there to start games and maybe finish games.  We're not athletic enough to start and finish games so we don't get rebounds even when we do get stops.  We get no easy offense.  Ray and Paul don't finish games like they did a couple of years ago.

  As far as Miami....I don't even want to think about it. That team is flawed yet it would still demolish these Celtics if they don't figure some fundamental things out.  I hate the idea of getting blown out of the playoff by that team.

[angryguy77]

Pride and experience didn't help us last year. It's not going to help us this year-although I will maintain hope with low expectations.