So, Is the 8th Seed Now Our Best Option?

[jambr380]

Technically, there's still a chance we reach the 4th in the standings; but, barring a collapse from the teams above us, would it be better for us to lose the first play-in game and fall to 8th? The road to the Finals would essentially be the same as if we were the 5th seed, only you would play the Sixers in the 1st round and play the 'easier' team in the 2nd round. If you are the 6th or 7th seed, you essentially have to play all 3 of the Nets, Bucks, and Sixers.

The added benefit here is that you actually get to take on the Sixers and we have seemingly had their number for years. Of course landing the #1 seed would have been ideal, but the 8th seed might not actually be so bad. It might even be considered 'better' than the 2nd or 3rd seed (home court, not withstanding), if you consider the Bucks/Nets a worse match-up than the Sixers - who you would definitely see in the 2nd round.

I realize this is all fantasy at this point, and talking about a Finals run probably seems laughable to some people, but it's never over until it's over. However, the season ends, let's just hope we win a play-in game!

[PhoSita]

I don't think this team has any hope against Philly, especially with Rob Williams ailing.  That would be a swift and painful 4-5 game series in my opinion.

The Celts have not been especially competitive against Philly in the regular season this year, have they?

[Celtics2021]

I don't think this team has any hope against Philly, especially with Rob Williams ailing.  That would be a swift and painful 4-5 game series in my opinion.

The Celts have not been especially competitive against Philly in the regular season this year, have they?

They haven’t, but, as always, there are caveats.  The first two games were in the middle of January, Kemba’s first week back and while Tatum was out with Covid.  And the third game Fournier and Thompson were both out with Covid.  So who knows?  We were up entering the 4th in one of the games, so they weren’t all pastings.

[Tr1boy]

This season is a write off

Its best to lose the play in tourney and get a higher draft position

I would not hold my breath vs Hornets or Wizards

Tbh I dont think Celts would beat Wizards

Especially with TL out

This way also, gives Danny a clearer direction to make some drastic moves in the offseason

[Moranis]

I believe Boston is more likely to beat Brooklyn than Philly this year.  I don't think Boston will beat Brooklyn, just that it is more likely to than Philly.  Brooklyn has basically not played with a full team and Harden still isn't back.  Harden is in fact their most important player (at least based on how the team performs when players miss time).  If Harden is out, Brooklyn is beatable.  If Harden is back, then you have no idea how they will actually play when all 3 of them are on the floor together.  So I'd rather play Brooklyn than Philly.

[Celtics4ever]

I'd rather play Philly,  we've beaten them in the past and Embiid wears down the longer the series is and Simmons can vanish.  No way we can beat the Nets if they are healthy unless we 've been playing possum all year.

Honestly, the only way we beat either of these teams the way we've been playing lately is if they had a covid outbreak in NJ and Philly.

[nyceltsfan]

I don't think this team has any hope against Philly, especially with Rob Williams ailing.  That would be a swift and painful 4-5 game series in my opinion.

The Celts have not been especially competitive against Philly in the regular season this year, have they?

I know this will never happen, but the last time the Celts played Philly, I remember Tacko Fall doing pretty well one on one with Embiid, but his deficiencies in team defense offset the individual success against Embiid.  Is there any way of training him specifically for a series against Philly?

[Sophomore]

The very best option is to miss the play-in and win the draft lottery. Barring that I’m indifferent as between Philly and the Bucks. We might give them some trouble, if we play our best. I don’t see any way we’re beating Brooklyn.

[jambr380]

Hopefully we can get TL ready for the playoffs. Other than his turf toe, the team could actually be mostly healthy for pretty much the first time this year...

Welp, this didn't age very well. It would still be fun to see this team persevere and make a nice run, but that is hardly realistic at this point. Best to just blow the play-in at this point and get the best pick possible.

At least we will have a good excuse for why we performed so badly this season. It may actually make it easier to sign Fournier, too - maybe he'll be convinced that we actually could have made a big run, if only we were healthy. Get better soon, Jaylen!

NOTE: I accidentally modified my original post, rather than creating a new one with the quote above. Oh, well, I'm sure nobody cares.

[jambr380]

The very best option is to miss the play-in and win the draft lottery. Barring that I’m indifferent as between Philly and the Bucks. We might give them some trouble, if we play our best. I don’t see any way we’re beating Brooklyn.

Absolutely! I don't think people would be too upset if winning the lottery was the end result. I'm not going to hold my breath for a Title or the #1 pick, but will be pleasantly surprised if either comes true.

[SparzWizard]

This year the 76ers are licking their chops against us. They've lost three straight playoff series to Boston since 2012.

They are dismantling this Celtics team if they meet in Round 1

[Roy H.]

If we're in the play-in, I'd prefer to play Indy.  I don't have a huge preference between Philly and Milwaukee, but really don't want to see Brooklyn.  If Kyrie breaks out the sage, I hope somebody breaks his leg.

[Androslav]

If we're in the play-in, I'd prefer to play Indy.  I don't have a huge preference between Philly and Milwaukee, but really don't want to see Brooklyn.  If Kyrie breaks out the sage, I hope somebody breaks his leg.

I prefer Philly over Milwaukee, plus it would give us more chance to see the Bucks-Heat series once more.
6'ers haven't proven they can beat us and there might be a psychological barrier that works to our advantage.

It's funny how both Celtics and Lakers are a 1st round matchup no one wants to see.

[BringToughnessBack]

It is absolutely our best bet to get the 8th seed and I will go a step further, we beat them in 5 games as Tatum lights them up. They are a much easier ticket vs. the Nets and at the end of the games, let them feed it to Embiid and us to Tatum and see who comes out on top. Great players rise up in the playoffs and I have seen nothing from our two young stars to give me doubt they can do it again.