Start to Tank A Bit

[droopdog7]

I might be in the minority, but I WANT the Nets in the opening round.

You're a fool is what it is.  No reason to make it more challenging than what it needs to be.  It's already going to be really really hard.

[Vermont Green]

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.

[droopdog7]

If we can't beat the best in the first/second round, we don't belong there. Might as well be put out of our misery if that's the case.

Not the logical way to think about it.  Playoff is a game of attrition.  I mean, I appreciate the mentality but the team that get's out isn't necessarily the one that could be every team in every situation.  Some luck, less games, etc. can really help.

[nebist]

Way too many factors to try and manipulate seedings (until the last game or two of the season perhaps). Just win, baby.

[ozgod]

The C's right now are in a 3-way tie with PHI and MIL for the 2-4 seeds.

I still think the #4 seed is the best one for the Celtics, given it'd allow them to play Chicago or Cleveland 1st round with HCA, then probably Miami next round, and therefore you avoid all of PHI/BKN/MIL until the ECF at earliest, while in all likelihood at least two of those teams will play each other in a series and knock the other off.

Idk if the 2 or 3 seed would be ideal since there's a chance you face BKN first round, and then almost guaranteed to play MIL/PHI the next round.

Have to start thinking about the matchups going forward.

This is for fans to think about and debate. I’m pretty sure the players and coaches aren’t thinking about their last 10 games this way, they want to finish off the regular season strong and keep the right habits and maintain the momentum.

Once you start trying to engineer an opponent by winning or losing or playing or coaching different to what has got you this far I think you get yourself in all kinds of trouble mentally. It’s us fans that apply different gradients to success, I.e. making the 2nd round is better than the first, 3rd better than 2nd etc. as far as they are concerned they just want to keep playing, get home court, and it’s the role of the coaches and film dept to prepare them for whoever they will be playing.

For example I don’t think any team above us will be tanking to avoid the first or 2nd spot even if it means they have to play Brooklyn. They’re going to have to bear whoever they play to win the championship anyway. Just keep playing well and see what happens.

I could be wrong but I feel that mentally you need to keep yourself in a certain frame of mind and you have to always be looking to win and maintain consistency of performance.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Yeah, NO-Keep the momentum going, don't let up. Tanking is for losers.

[Moranis]

If we can't beat the best in the first/second round, we don't belong there. Might as well be put out of our misery if that's the case.

Not the logical way to think about it.  Playoff is a game of attrition.  I mean, I appreciate the mentality but the team that get's out isn't necessarily the one that could be every team in every situation.  Some luck, less games, etc. can really help.

Sure, but sometimes you are better off playing the injured team early before they get healthier.  Like I have no idea if Simmons is actually going to play this year, but it becomes way more likely the deeper into the playoffs the Nets get.  That said, maybe you don't have to play the Nets at all because they get knocked off early. 

[angryguy77]

If we can't beat the best in the first/second round, we don't belong there. Might as well be put out of our misery if that's the case.

Not the logical way to think about it.  Playoff is a game of attrition.  I mean, I appreciate the mentality but the team that get's out isn't necessarily the one that could be every team in every situation.  Some luck, less games, etc. can really help.

I don't entirely disagree as beating the best doesn't always mean you beat everyone. Of course we wouldn't know how things would've turned out if say MKE gets bounced and we play some scrubs in the ECF. My statement was made with the thought "we are only in the ECF or finals because the best team was taken out."

[droopdog7]

If we can't beat the best in the first/second round, we don't belong there. Might as well be put out of our misery if that's the case.

Not the logical way to think about it.  Playoff is a game of attrition.  I mean, I appreciate the mentality but the team that get's out isn't necessarily the one that could be every team in every situation.  Some luck, less games, etc. can really help.

Sure, but sometimes you are better off playing the injured team early before they get healthier.  Like I have no idea if Simmons is actually going to play this year, but it becomes way more likely the deeper into the playoffs the Nets get.  That said, maybe you don't have to play the Nets at all because they get knocked off early.

And you may be better off NOT playing that team at all.  Or playing a much easier team early to get your own momentum and rest. 

[jambr380]

If we can't beat the best in the first/second round, we don't belong there. Might as well be put out of our misery if that's the case.

Not the logical way to think about it.  Playoff is a game of attrition.  I mean, I appreciate the mentality but the team that get's out isn't necessarily the one that could be every team in every situation.  Some luck, less games, etc. can really help.

Yeah, the ECSF and ECF are going to be hard enough. It'd be better to get an 'easy' opponent in the 1st round so that you don't totally burn yourself out. A healthy Nets team where Kyrie is allowed to play is still probably the favorite in the East (not saying they will be totally healthy, just from an objective standpoint) - may we well avoid playing the 'best' team in the 1st round. And you may get to avoid playing them altogether if someone else knocks them out.

Edit: appears my post is useless as all this was discussed while I was typing lol 

[Kernewek]

If we can't beat the best in the first/second round, we don't belong there. Might as well be put out of our misery if that's the case.

Not the logical way to think about it.  Playoff is a game of attrition.  I mean, I appreciate the mentality but the team that get's out isn't necessarily the one that could be every team in every situation.  Some luck, less games, etc. can really help.

Sure, but sometimes you are better off playing the injured team early before they get healthier.  Like I have no idea if Simmons is actually going to play this year, but it becomes way more likely the deeper into the playoffs the Nets get.  That said, maybe you don't have to play the Nets at all because they get knocked off early.

And you may be better off NOT playing that team at all.  Or playing a much easier team early to get your own momentum and rest.

I'll be excited to watch whoever we play, though, especially as I most likely won't get to watch many of the games live so it'll be largely spoiled anyway.

[RJD1974]

I might be in the minority, but I WANT the Nets in the opening round.

You're a fool is what it is.  No reason to make it more challenging than what it needs to be.  It's already going to be really really hard.

Ah, yes, the time when the matchup I'm looking forward to garners me insults. Huzzah!

[wdleehi]

Let's hope the Celtics avoid introducing bad habits in attempt to adjust matchups.   

[droopdog7]

I might be in the minority, but I WANT the Nets in the opening round.

You're a fool is what it is.  No reason to make it more challenging than what it needs to be.  It's already going to be really really hard.

Ah, yes, the time when the matchup I'm looking forward to garners me insults. Huzzah!

Sorry; that was intended to be, not so insulting.  Like, too fool!  But I see how it didn’t come off that way.  My bad.

[blink]

;Some of these teams,may start tanking to avoid playing us, when it gets down to the last couple games! The way we've played these last 25 games, I wouldn't look forward to playing us!!

I was just going to type the same thing.  TP!

The rest of the teams don't want the C's right now.