Not quite guaransheed...

[KCattheStripe]

But still: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/62059/20091011/rasheed_celtics_can_surpass_72_wins/

[PosImpos]

Honestly, who cares about regular season record?  As long as we have one of the best records, we'll be in good shape.  I'd love to get #1 seed in the East, but not if it means wearing down our mostly quite old starters before the post-season.

The main goal is the championship.  I think I'd prefer for our players not to be so concerned about how many wins they can accrue.  The main thing during the regular season is beating the best teams.  I would be perfectly happy if we only won 55 or so games if we won the majority of our games against the Lakers, Cavs, Magic, and Spurs.

The Cavaliers showed everybody last year that you can have a fantastic regular season record, but it doesn't matter at all if you can't beat good teams in the postseason.

[Bahku]

Actually, the regular season record is VERY important, in that it determines home court advantage.

As we witnessed with the 2008 Championship team, had we not solidified home court advantage, the outcome of the 2008 playoffs may have been very different, (in fact, most assuredly would have been). I do agree that winning the championship is not predicated on home court advantage, nor is it assured in any way, but in this highly competitive NBA that exists today, every little bit helps, and home court advantage can easily be enough to turn the tide.

Not only that, but a superior record can be a big psychological boost to the team that earns it, and the opposite for their opponents. Nothing is etched in stone, and all this is speculation, but I can honestly say that I prefer we have the best record possible, and hopefully the best record in the NBA. Does it guarantee a championship? Not at all, but I much rather go with the shorter odds ... and I love to have our boys in their own "house" as much as possible!

[greenwise]

I would rather have 60 wins, have some fresher legs and get the championship in June.

All I have in my mind is June, June and more June

Bring #18!!

[Bahku]

Trust me, the home court advantage and "best record" is very important to KG and the Truth and Ray especially, (they've said so many times) ... it's a pride thing for them and a confidence booster, and I want them in the most positive state of mind possible going into the post-season, as well as playing the most games possible in the Garden. If it doesn't happen, I still like their chances, but for their sakes especially, I hope they win as many games as possible, (that's what it's about, after all, and if you ask any Celtic, they'll tell you that they intend on winning every game they play!)

[2short]

I would expect (and hope) that every player on our team  wants to win EVERY game.  And they would give their all to win EVERY game.  This is where Doc comes in, of course he doesn't want anyone taking a game off going through the motions.  So he needs to get a rotation set, develop young guys.  This doesn't mean a whole rotation of subs.  Put in giddens lets say with the starters and give him some burn (please feel free to put anyone who needs playing time in that slot).  So Ray plays 15 minutes in a game we win.  Next game do the same with a different player/posistion.  This is the coach's job!  Doc can easily regulate his players minutes but he has always seemed to not trust the young guys enough

[Redz]

There's definitely merit to winning to winning home court advantage (though Game 7 at home didn't mean diddly last year vs Orlando).  However, who's to say it's going to take 72 wins to take home court throughout?  The Chicago all time record is not something to shoot for (unless they're close maybe). 

[lostjumper]

Obviously, the main goal is to get into the playoffs healthy. That didn't happen last year, and it made a big difference. However, home court advantage seems to make much moer of a difference in basketball than it does in any other sport. The bench seems much better this year, so I think 65-68 games is within reach. That should be enough to get the 1st or 2nd seed.

[Celtics17]

I dont really think winning enough games is going to be an issue for this team. Only Clevelan will challenge us in the East and L.A. in the west so it will be close. Home court is very important but not important enough to drain a teams energy and health.

[indeedproceed]

But still: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/62059/20091011/rasheed_celtics_can_surpass_72_wins/

I thought to myself "that is a very witty thread title. I wonder who thought that up? Makes sense.

[PosImpos]

Actually, the regular season record is VERY important, in that it determines home court advantage.

As we witnessed with the 2008 Championship team, had we not solidified home court advantage, the outcome of the 2008 playoffs may have been very different, (in fact, most assuredly would have been). I do agree that winning the championship is not predicated on home court advantage, nor is it assured in any way, but in this highly competitive NBA that exists today, every little bit helps, and home court advantage can easily be enough to turn the tide.

Not only that, but a superior record can be a big psychological boost to the team that earns it, and the opposite for their opponents. Nothing is etched in stone, and all this is speculation, but I can honestly say that I prefer we have the best record possible, and hopefully the best record in the NBA. Does it guarantee a championship? Not at all, but I much rather go with the shorter odds ... and I love to have our boys in their own "house" as much as possible!

My point is - home court advantage means nothing if our players wear themselves out trying to be great in the regular season and get injured or don't have their full energy for the playoffs.  I'd much rather go 55, perform well against the best opponents, and then be firing on all cylinders for the playoffs.  We're an old team, so I have serious doubts that we have the option of being 100% intense year round, getting 72+ wins and being 100% for the playoffs too.  The league is too strong this year for 72+ wins to be that easy.

[TitleMaster]

On the average, most teams try for a 57 to a 63 win season, even with a stacked roster. Around here, everyone seems to think in terms of 67 ('86 Celtics) to 72 (Bull's record) Ws for the year. If anything, I would have hoped that the Cavs and Mavs playoff implosions, as well as ancient history... Havlicek's elbow in '73 (68-14 Celts all time record), had shown us that the big Ws is less important than being healthy and primed.

[indeedproceed]

On the average, most teams try for a 57 to a 63 win season, even with a stacked roster. Around here, everyone seems to think in terms of 67 ('86 Celtics) to 72 (Bull's record) Ws for the year. If anything, I would have hoped that the Cavs and Mavs playoff implosions, as well as ancient history... Havlicek's elbow in '73 (68-14 Celts all time record), had shown us that the big Ws is less important than being healthy and primed.

I don't care how many wins we have, I just want to have more than all the other teams. Is that wrong?

[PosImpos]

The only regular season wins that really matter are against the teams that will be the top 3-4 seeds in either conference.  If we manage to win all of those games, and yet only end up with 50-55 wins, it won't matter.  As long as our team can beat good teams when it counts, I am confident in our chances at a championship.

[Rondo_is_better]

This argument going back and forth is neglecting an important piece of information:

Winning 66-72 games does not guarantee an exhausted team in the playoffs. Winning 55-60 games does not mean the team will be energized for the playoffs. This is not an either or situation.

I'm gonna go ahead and hope for the ideal--that we win as many games as we possibly can, get home court advantage, and keep our starters fresh by making use of our much improved bench.

73 wins, HCA, and a ring, and I REFUSE to think of anything else.