What to do...

[Vermont Green]

I still can't say that trying to "rest" players as a way to game the standings is the way to go.  BKN may still end up #8.  The only way to avoid them for sure is to end up the 4 seed. I am still going to hope for the best case scenario which is Celtics get the 2 seed and BKN gets the 8 seed.

The #3 works as well, correct?

Yes, good point, as I understand it, 3 seed would miss BKN in the first round and if BKN won the 2-7 match up, we would at least have home court for game 7 in that series.  So the result could be more or less the same as us being the 2 seed and BKN being the 8 seed.

Someone is going to have BKN in the first round and then likely (assuming no upsets) some combination of 2 of the top 4 teams after that.  For us it could be BKN, MIL, MIA.  Brutal.  At best we may see something like ATL, PHI, BKN which isn't exactly a cake walk.

[angryguy77]

Thinking about going to the MKE game, but I don't want to spend the cash if they're not going to play everyone. Any word on what they're planning?

[Celtics2021]

Thinking about going to the MKE game, but I don't want to spend the cash if they're not going to play everyone. Any word on what they're planning?

You’ll have a better idea after tonight.  Horford and Tatum are likely to sit one of tonight and tomorrow, so if they play tonight, don’t expect them tomorrow.  I think Jaylen will play both unless he’s really hurt, as he has an incentive that he loses if he misses another game.

[Donoghus]

Thinking about going to the MKE game, but I don't want to spend the cash if they're not going to play everyone. Any word on what they're planning?

I think it'll probably be predicated on what happens tonight.

[angryguy77]

Thinking about going to the MKE game, but I don't want to spend the cash if they're not going to play everyone. Any word on what they're planning?

You’ll have a better idea after tonight.  Horford and Tatum are likely to sit one of tonight and tomorrow, so if they play tonight, don’t expect them tomorrow.  I think Jaylen will play both unless he’s really hurt, as he has an incentive that he loses if he misses another game.

That makes it even more difficult because seating options are getting more limited.

[Phantom255x]

COMMENCE...

[Goldstar88]

Alright, time to put the 8 man rotation on ice. Let’s call up some more G-leaguers for the last 2 games.

[colincb]

Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
about 38 minutes ago

Marcus Smart on resting one of last two games: "Whatever decision Ime makes, we are going to roll with it."

[GreenlyGreeny]

Whoever gets the Bulls in the first-round is going to have the easiest start to the playoffs. I also suspect whoever gets the Nets is going to have the toughest start to the playoffs. I’d intentionally drop the games to the Bucks and Grizzlies 🙈 and roll the dice with Toronto or Chicago in hopes of getting Chicago. We hit 50. Let’s rest our guys. No shame in that, right?

[ozgod]

Whoever gets the Bulls in the first-round is going to have the easiest start to the playoffs. I also suspect whoever gets the Nets is going to have the toughest start to the playoffs. I’d intentionally drop the games to the Bucks and Grizzlies 🙈 and roll the dice with Toronto or Chicago in hopes of getting Chicago. We hit 50. Let’s rest our guys. No shame in that, right?

I honestly don't think any top level player thinks like this. Sitting around the locker room saying "ok lets lose to this team so we can play that team in the playoffs". I just feel like at this level of competition once you deviate from a winning mindset that has brought you success you open up a can of worms. Resting to preserve health and alleviate some niggling injuries is one thing. Planning to lose a few games going into the playoffs to get a better seed? Harder to buy that. Imagine Jordan, Bird or Garnett saying "yup let's lose these games so we can avoid Brooklyn, they're scary, we'd rather play Chicago because a first round exit is worse than a second round exit."

It's a fun argument for fans because we do it sitting in front of our computers or in the comfort of our loungerooms thinking of the best ways to game the system 

[Goldstar88]

Will be interesting to see who plays against Memphis…

[Atzar]

Will be interesting to see who plays against Memphis…

Admittedly this vax situation concerns me a bit regarding a potential series with Toronto.  Initially I thought it was bulls***, but there's a lot of smoke around it and Philly's situation with Thybulle coming to light makes me think that there's probably a fire.  So I think we need to go win it - play the guys.  Don't risk dropping to that 4 seed. 

If Philly loses to Indy on Saturday, my stance might change.

[SHAQATTACK]

Memphis will just be going though the motion ,  not chancing an injury . 

A victory is pretty much for the taking ……

If the C’s want it ……matter fact it might be hard not to win

[GreenlyGreeny]

Whoever gets the Bulls in the first-round is going to have the easiest start to the playoffs. I also suspect whoever gets the Nets is going to have the toughest start to the playoffs. I’d intentionally drop the games to the Bucks and Grizzlies 🙈 and roll the dice with Toronto or Chicago in hopes of getting Chicago. We hit 50. Let’s rest our guys. No shame in that, right?

I honestly don't think any top level player thinks like this. Sitting around the locker room saying "ok lets lose to this team so we can play that team in the playoffs". I just feel like at this level of competition once you deviate from a winning mindset that has brought you success you open up a can of worms. Resting to preserve health and alleviate some niggling injuries is one thing. Planning to lose a few games going into the playoffs to get a better seed? Harder to buy that. Imagine Jordan, Bird or Garnett saying "yup let's lose these games so we can avoid Brooklyn, they're scary, we'd rather play Chicago because a first round exit is worse than a second round exit."

It's a fun argument for fans because we do it sitting in front of our computers or in the comfort of our loungerooms thinking of the best ways to game the system 

It’s probably not going to be possible to lose to Memphis. They’ll surely rest their starters and we are going to know at tip-off if a win guarantees we face Chicago in the first-round. We could not possibly get a better first-round matchup without Timelord. Praise the basketball Gods if this happens. Then we only have three, or maybe just two, intense series to win the title (I can see Milwaukee being exhausted by the Nets, giving us an edge come the second-round, so then it would likely just be Heat or Philly in the ECF, and then the Suns or Warriors).

[ozgod]

Brian Robb outlined the possible permutations on MassLive:

EAST STANDINGS

1. Miami 52-28 (clinched No. 1 seed)

2. Milwaukee: 50-30

3. Boston: 50-31

4. Philadelphia 49-31

TIEBREAKERS

BOS OVER MIA (2-1 SEASON SERIES)
BOS OVER MIL (2-2 SEASON SERIES BUT WINS DUE TO COMMON OPPONENTS)
BOS OVER PHI (DIVISION RECORD)
MIL OVER PHI (2-1 SEASON SERIES)
BOS WINS three-way tiebreaker

CLOSING SCHEDULES

Boston: @ MEM

Milwaukee: @ DET, @ CLE

Philadelphia: vs. IND, vs. DET

CELTICS GET NO. 2 SEED

—If Celtics beat Memphis and Bucks go 1-1 or worse

—If Celtics lose to Memphis, Milwaukee goes 0-2 and Philadelphia goes 1-1 or worse

CELTICS GET NO. 3 SEED

—If Celtics beat Memphis and Milwaukee goes 2-0

--If Celtics lose to Memphis, Milwaukee goes 1-1 or better and Philadelphia goes 1-1 or worse

CELTICS GET NO. 4 SEED

--If Celtics lose to Memphis, Milwaukee goes 1-1 or better and Philadelphia goes 2-0

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Celtics have an important advantage with the schedule on Sunday. Milwaukee plays Cleveland in the afternoon while the Celtics play Memphis at 7 p.m. That difference will let Boston choose what they want to do when it comes to playing for seeding. If Milwaukee wins their final two games, it’s simple: Beat Memphis and get the No. 3 seed. If Milwaukee loses one of their final two games (or both of them), the Celtics will need to lose against Memphis if they don’t want to be the No. 2 seed.

The most likely scenario right now is Boston getting the No. 3 seed since they can secure that with a victory and Memphis won’t have anything to play for with the No. 2 seed locked up. However, both the No. 2 (if Bucks falter) and No. 4 (if Bucks/Sixers win out and C’s lose) are still in play.

The Bulls are all but locked into the No. 6 seed right now (Toronto is at No. 5) so the No. 3 spot looks like the most appealing spot in the East when it comes to preferable first round matchups. If Boston can take care of business against Memphis, that’s likely where they end up, barring the Bucks tanking their final two games.

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/04/celtics-playoff-seeding-scenarios-where-will-boston-land-in-eastern-conference-after-losing-to-bucks.html