I hate to bring this up.....

[Ersatz]

We have the 2nd and thats great, but this game today needs to be played like our lives depend on it. We need to approach this like its a playoff game. I don't think anyone is fooling themselves when they say we will face the Cavs in the ECF. Winning today I believe will make a statement and go along way in building momentum going into the playoffs. We need the knowledge that we can beat them in their house. I know it will be extreamly hard without KG, but I believe we can pull it off.

This could just as easily backfire. What if we play our starters all out, really really try to win the game, and they lose? Couldn't that do just enough to kill our confidence and make them doubt whether the really can beat Cleveland?

I say play the starters in the first and third quarters and rest them the second and the fourth.

[Redz]

The Giants/Pats parallel is apples and oranges.  The NFL season and the NBA season are totally different.  Plus there was no real prior history between the the Pats & Giants, whereas there's plenty to fall back on for the C's.

The Celts are plenty confident.  Whether or not their fan base, or the media, are confident is meaningless, and that's all that would really change here.  The C's know they can beat anyone.

[dark_lord]

a win today would be nice, but the most important thing is getting healthy.

[BASS_THUMPER]

we should try and win this one..injuries are not avoidable.  phil wants kobe to chill but kobe say these people are payin good money to see us play so he should give the ticket buyers 100% every game...i agree

[angryguy77]

This game is meaningless in the standings I know. But I'm looking at it from a psychology angle. We beat them, or at least we come close, it will make them feel not so invincible. NFL and NBA are different animals of course, but humans are not, and confidence can be shaken no matter what sport it is. If we lose today, they are not going to take us any lighter in the playoffs. We are not going to sneak up on anybody. WE were are the defending champs and will be taken sereiously. But a win today makes 2 in a row with our team not close to full streangth. Tell me that would not make the Cavs a little nervouse. That can give us an edge when me meet them again.

Now I dont feel its the end of the world if we lose, but to say that if we win it means nothing is overlooking a lot.

[MBz]

Personally, I want to see the Celtics win so the Cavs don't tie the Celtics home record.  C's win, Cavs end up 39-2 at home, and are not on Larry's C's 40-1 level.

[celticinorlando]

because boston will have kg and powe back

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

This game is meaningless in the standings I know. But I'm looking at it from a psychology angle. We beat them, or at least we come close, it will make them feel not so invincible. NFL and NBA are different animals of course, but humans are not, and confidence can be shaken no matter what sport it is. If we lose today, they are not going to take us any lighter in the playoffs. We are not going to sneak up on anybody. WE were are the defending champs and will be taken sereiously. But a win today makes 2 in a row with our team not close to full streangth. Tell me that would not make the Cavs a little nervouse. That can give us an edge when me meet them again.

Now I dont feel its the end of the world if we lose, but to say that if we win it means nothing is overlooking a lot.

It could also work the complete opposite way

either way, the celtics are confident they can beat anyone once the playoffs start, they dont need to win a meaningless game to know that.

If the celtics win today, the cavs would be less likely to lose to the celtics again on there homecourt imo, they'd be more prepared for it, as of now they feel invincible there, I say catch them off guard when it actually matters myself

Would you rather the Cavs not break the all time regular season home record, and then go on to win the championship, or would you rather them tie that record and then go on and lose in the playoffs?

[indeedproceed]

This game is meaningless in the standings I know. But I'm looking at it from a psychology angle. We beat them, or at least we come close, it will make them feel not so invincible. NFL and NBA are different animals of course, but humans are not, and confidence can be shaken no matter what sport it is. If we lose today, they are not going to take us any lighter in the playoffs. We are not going to sneak up on anybody. WE were are the defending champs and will be taken sereiously. But a win today makes 2 in a row with our team not close to full streangth. Tell me that would not make the Cavs a little nervouse. That can give us an edge when me meet them again.

Now I dont feel its the end of the world if we lose, but to say that if we win it means nothing is overlooking a lot.

It could also work the complete opposite way

either way, the celtics are confident they can beat anyone once the playoffs start, they dont need to win a meaningless game to know that.

If the celtics win today, the cavs would be less likely to lose to the celtics again on there homecourt imo, they'd be more prepared for it, as of now they feel invincible there, I say catch them off guard when it actually matters myself

Would you rather the Cavs not break the all time regular season home record, and then go on to win the championship, or would you rather them tie that record and then go on and lose in the playoffs?

So what you're implying is that you want the Celtics to "lull the cavs into a false sense of security"....its a basketball game..they're gonan play hard and play to win. Both teams are smart enough not to get cocky if they win, and strong enough to not get down if they lose.

[celticinorlando]

happy if they win...unconcerned if they lose...

[BCelts]

Personally, I want to see the Celtics win so the Cavs don't tie the Celtics home record.  C's win, Cavs end up 39-2 at home, and are not on Larry's C's 40-1 level.

I agree, I don't want to see that either.  Also, I think that we as a group are missing something.  This is a team game, and regardless of whether both teams top players are playing or not, both teams second units have to play inthe playoffs at times.  I suspect this will be a battle of the "second teams."  That is meaningful.  They have not seen a lot of Marbury or Marbury playing with House as they have been recently.  I am in little hurry to educate them on the Court.  Similarly, we have a chance to see then with Joe Smith and without Big Ben.  This could be worthwhile.

But the win is not as important as the learning.

[Rondo_is_better]

We have the 2nd and thats great, but this game today needs to be played like our lives depend on it. We need to approach this like its a playoff game. I don't think anyone is fooling themselves when they say we will face the Cavs in the ECF. Winning today I believe will make a statement and go along way in building momentum going into the playoffs. We need the knowledge that we can beat them in their house. I know it will be extreamly hard without KG, but I believe we can pull it off.

Now for the "I hate to bring this up" part for you New Englanders. I believe one of the reasons the Giants beat the Patriots is because of how they played that final regular season game. They didn't win of course, but it gave them hope and the reason to believe that they coud beat a excellent team. I look at this game in sort of the same light. We have time to rest our guys after this, but we only have one last shot at the Cavs before the ECF. Lets make a statement and leave them wondering whats going to happen when they play us at full strength. A win today and this will make the Cavs play tight, and a little nervous.


Lets do it green.

I agree, TP.

A win here sans-KG will damage the Cavs psyche. They were able to shake off the loss in the Garden when we were KG-less because they could just say, "Ehh, we'll get 'em at the Q", but if they DON'T, that could make a big difference come playoff time.

They'll have the homecourt in the ECF, which means we'll be playing in their building. If we beat them today and break this 14 game home-team-winning thing, that will be on their minds come game 1 of the ECF, and it will make them tense. We could steal another game at the Q when it really matters if we win today, and remember, all it takes is one win in Cleveland to shift homecourt advantage to US in the playoffs.

GO C's! Big game!

[ACF]

This game is meaningless in the standings I know. But I'm looking at it from a psychology angle. We beat them, or at least we come close, it will make them feel not so invincible. NFL and NBA are different animals of course, but humans are not, and confidence can be shaken no matter what sport it is. If we lose today, they are not going to take us any lighter in the playoffs. We are not going to sneak up on anybody. WE were are the defending champs and will be taken sereiously. But a win today makes 2 in a row with our team not close to full streangth. Tell me that would not make the Cavs a little nervouse. That can give us an edge when me meet them again.

Now I dont feel its the end of the world if we lose, but to say that if we win it means nothing is overlooking a lot.

Yeah, that's a TP.