I'm over HCA now

[twinbree]

This season, I don't think they've played noticeably better at home than on the road. If they start the play-offs full strength and focused I find it hard to believe they'll play as badly on the road as they did last season. All it took to cure their road woes was a home loss suggesting its possible they might have ground out road wins earlier if they didn't have homecourt.
I know they just lost but it just hit me how tough it'll be to beat them in a 7 game series regardless of where . Disclaimer: I only watched a few minutes of the game so I may be in denial here 

[wdleehi]

I have thought all year that they only needed to be one of the top two seeds in the East to win again.


I believe this team can win a game in Cleveland.  I know this team can win a finals game in LA. 

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

Theres almost no way the celtics should've won today, but it impacts the standings to much to ignore it, it puts the cavs a game ahead and pulls the magic to close for comfort, we could end up in 3d place in heartbeat if we dont get healthy..

If we do get healthy, im confident in this team, and im confident we're the best team in league, HCA or not

[cordobes]

HCA is very important. The fact that this team can win without HCA doesn't mean it's less important.

[wdleehi]

HCA is very important. The fact that this team can win without HCA doesn't mean it's less important.

Important, yes.


But not to the level of
1) overplaying the healthy guys
2) rushing the hurt guys back.

[Drucci]

Sure, having a 100% healthy team is more important than having HCA but I think HCA is really, really important. We've seen it last friday against LeBron & cie. I know the C's can win on the road but to win in Cleveland looks like an impossible task this season : they've lost only one game at home!

The playoffs are different from the regular season, I know, but HCA would improve by far the Celtics' chances to win a championship. With the way the refs are making calls against the C's (mostly non-calls in fact) at home, it would be a nightmare in Cleveland. However, Quicken Loans Arena put aside, I'm not worried about the Celtics's ability to win on any court, including the Lakers'.

It will be hard to get HCA now that they are trailing the Cavs by 2 games but I like the Celtics' chances... if only they are not getting other players hurt. And with the return of KG, Rondo, etc.

[wdleehi]

Sure, having a 100% healthy team is more important than having HCA but I think HCA is really, really important. We've seen it last friday against LeBron & cie. I know the C's can win on the road but to win in Cleveland looks like an impossible task this season : they've lost only one game at home!

The playoffs are different from the regular season, I know, but HCA would improve by far the Celtics' chances to win a championship. With the way the refs are making calls against the C's (mostly non-calls in fact) at home, it would be a nightmare in Cleveland. However, Quicken Loans Arena put aside, I'm not worried about the Celtics's ability to win on any court, including the Lakers'.

It will be hard to get HCA now that they are trailing the Cavs by 2 games but I like the Celtics' chances... if only they are not getting other players hurt. And with the return of KG, Rondo, etc.

This team rises to the occation of "impossible"

See last year's texas triangle sweep.

[Drucci]

Sure, having a 100% healthy team is more important than having HCA but I think HCA is really, really important. We've seen it last friday against LeBron & cie. I know the C's can win on the road but to win in Cleveland looks like an impossible task this season : they've lost only one game at home!

The playoffs are different from the regular season, I know, but HCA would improve by far the Celtics' chances to win a championship. With the way the refs are making calls against the C's (mostly non-calls in fact) at home, it would be a nightmare in Cleveland. However, Quicken Loans Arena put aside, I'm not worried about the Celtics's ability to win on any court, including the Lakers'.

It will be hard to get HCA now that they are trailing the Cavs by 2 games but I like the Celtics' chances... if only they are not getting other players hurt. And with the return of KG, Rondo, etc.

This team rises to the occation of "impossible"

See last year's texas triangle sweep.

Yes, the Texas triangle sweep was impressive but it was just regular season games. If you want to talk of the team's rise in impossible situations, I think the game 4 of the last Finals is quite more impressive and significative (I can watch it and rewatch it numerous times, and I'm still amazed and thrilled by this historic comeback ).

My fear is the C's having slow starts on the opponent's court like last year in Cleveland or in L.A. The team has improved since then and the players have got a lot of confidence but I'm still quite worried about their performances on the road. I guess we'll see what they do during the playoffs, but the game against Cleveland last friday erased all my fears momentarily because during these 48 minutes the C's were really playing at an unstoppable level of excellence, without KG and key benchers. I expect them to play their A+ game each night during the playoffs but the injury problems and the Cavs' homecourt are two big concerns.

[twinbree]

Sure, having a 100% healthy team is more important than having HCA but I think HCA is really, really important. We've seen it last friday against LeBron & cie. I know the C's can win on the road but to win in Cleveland looks like an impossible task this season : they've lost only one game at home!

The playoffs are different from the regular season, I know, but HCA would improve by far the Celtics' chances to win a championship. With the way the refs are making calls against the C's (mostly non-calls in fact) at home, it would be a nightmare in Cleveland. However, Quicken Loans Arena put aside, I'm not worried about the Celtics's ability to win on any court, including the Lakers'.

It will be hard to get HCA now that they are trailing the Cavs by 2 games but I like the Celtics' chances... if only they are not getting other players hurt. And with the return of KG, Rondo, etc.

I agree the officiating will definitely be brutal at the Q but the Celtics are good enough to overcome that when they play well. Its when they're being sloppy that they open the door for bad calls to hurt them.

[twinbree]

This team rises to the occation of "impossible"

See last year's texas triangle sweep.

I totally agree. The fight in them is incredible. If any team can break up the Lebron-Kobe lovefest the league is hoping for its them.

[vinnie]

I am over HCA, because given the current injury status I do not see any way they will beat out Cleveland. I also am concerned that Orlando will pass by the C's and we finish in third. Given the injuries, there is nothing that can be done about it. And, Doc is burning out Pierce. He was great Friday night and today he was really bad. Not sure if he is tired, but he looked awful today. I think if we finish third, it is going to be a tough road to get back to the finals.