Will Cleveland drop their game against ATL to stop BOS from getting the 3rd sd?

[GreenNote]

I was just looking at Atlanta's schedule and realized that they face Cleveland at home on their last game of the year. Since Cleveland has locked up the East and the NBA record (barring an improbable losing streak), I have a strong feeling that they would rest their guys like what Dallas did the year GS upset them and also like how Boston ended up playing Chicago instead of Philly last year...

The point I'm trying to make is do you think that Cleveland would not play hard against Atlanta just in order to face the Celtics in the second round? My opinion is that after what happened today, the Cavs definitely want to get back at Boston; especially after the KG LeBrat incident.

That being said, it is rather unfortunate that Cleveland might have a say in Boston's early playoff, especially when you look at the game against Houston on Friday and all those other games that the Cs should have won. The number 3 looks a lot different after the Bogut injury.

[Chris]

Boston matches up as a much tougher matchup for the Cavs IMO, so I think they would be better off trying to beat Atlanta, so they can then face them in the second round, rather than the C's

[rav123]

Boston matches up as a much tougher matchup for the Cavs IMO, so I think they would be better off trying to beat Atlanta, so they can then face them in the second round, rather than the C's

Yes. They'd rather avoid us than try to get back at us. Also, if we get the third seed, we cannot be sure whether we face Miami or the Bucks (right now Bucks are 6th while the Heat are 5th - in which case it's better for us to come 4th, unless the Bucks are worse now because Bogut is injured.)

[kenmaine]

I think you're spending way too much time worrying about things that really don't matter
The only important thing is if the C's are all healthy for the playoffs.
You have to play the best eventually, so who cares if it's the first or second round or whatever?

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think you're spending way too much time worrying about things that really don't matter
The only important thing is if the C's are all healthy for the playoffs.
You have to play the best eventually, so who cares if it's the first or second round or whatever?

I'd rather play a banged up Bucks than the Heat though, so in that regard it matters, but we don't know how that race will end up either, but at the moment I'd rather be in 3rd place than in 4th.

But of course, health is the most important part so you don't go after it at all cylinders, but it doesn't mean you forgo it.

[Change]

Hold your horses people. A first round series win isn't a guaranteed with this squad. Also remember Celtics have a habit of struggling in the playoffs & that's a fact. One series and one game at a time. No need to jump to conclusions yet.

[PosImpos]

Honestly, I think we have similar chances of beating the Cavs in a 7 game series as the Magic, so I don't really mind either way.  I feel like the Bucks and the Heat are probably relatively even now that Bogut is out for the season.

[Drucci]

It will be very interesting to see what Cleveland does.

They will probably rest their guys like they did last year but common sense should convince them to beat Atlanta so they face them in the second round while and Orlando and Boston battle each other. That way, Cleveland will only have to face Orlando OR Boston in the ECF, and not both.

[cdif911]

Hold your horses people. A first round series win isn't a guaranteed with this squad. Also remember Celtics have a habit of struggling in the playoffs & that's a fact. One series and one game at a time. No need to jump to conclusions yet.

they have a habit of winning those series too though..

[Fafnir]

It will be very interesting to see what Cleveland does.

They will probably rest their guys like they did last year but common sense should convince them to beat Atlanta so they face them in the second round while and Orlando and Boston battle each other. That way, Cleveland will only have to face Orlando OR Boston in the ECF, and not both.

Meh, I think Cleveland is rightfully confident in playing anyone. They need to worry about their own health and rhythm instead of match-ups.

[fairweatherfan]

Cleveland might rest their guys but I doubt it'll be over any seeding considerations. 

Besides, I think the conventional wisdom now is to rest guys in the 2nd and/or 3rd last game, and use the last game as a playoff tuneup with more or less standard rotations.

[MMacOH]

Cleveland might rest their guys but I doubt it'll be over any seeding considerations. 

Besides, I think the conventional wisdom now is to rest guys in the 2nd and/or 3rd last game, and use the last game as a playoff tuneup with more or less standard rotations.

This.  The Cavs don't care who they play in the playoffs

[Drucci]

It will be very interesting to see what Cleveland does.

They will probably rest their guys like they did last year but common sense should convince them to beat Atlanta so they face them in the second round while and Orlando and Boston battle each other. That way, Cleveland will only have to face Orlando OR Boston in the ECF, and not both.

Meh, I think Cleveland is rightfully confident in playing anyone. They need to worry about their own health and rhythm instead of match-ups.

Maybe they are confident in playing anyone but that would be a mistake in my opinion. Sure it's more prestigious to say "we don't fear anyone, everyone should fear us" but if you can get favorable matchups by losing or winning a game you should do it because otherwise it could come back to bite you.

[Tai]

It will be very interesting to see what Cleveland does.

They will probably rest their guys like they did last year but common sense should convince them to beat Atlanta so they face them in the second round while and Orlando and Boston battle each other. That way, Cleveland will only have to face Orlando OR Boston in the ECF, and not both.

Meh, I think Cleveland is rightfully confident in playing anyone. They need to worry about their own health and rhythm instead of match-ups.

Maybe they are confident in playing anyone but that would be a mistake in my opinion. Sure it's more prestigious to say "we don't fear anyone, everyone should fear us" but if you can get favorable matchups by losing or winning a game you should do it because otherwise it could come back to bite you.

The thing is, who's a favorable matchup to who depends on who you ask. Does anyone in Cleveland truly fear the C's, for example?

If I'm the Cavs coaching staff, I'm not in love with saying to win or lose this game based off very subjective opinion. Or at least, subjective opinion that suggests they throw games just to play this certain team possibly later rather than sooner.

[fairweatherfan]

Cleveland might rest their guys but I doubt it'll be over any seeding considerations. 

Besides, I think the conventional wisdom now is to rest guys in the 2nd and/or 3rd last game, and use the last game as a playoff tuneup with more or less standard rotations.

This.  The Cavs don't care who they play in the playoffs

I don't know about that - I'm sure the coaching staff at the very least cares about this stuff; Atlanta and Boston are two very different teams to plan for.  But I seriously doubt they'll change how they play in the regular season specifically to try and engineer a desired matchup.