If scores hold tonight....a little more bad news...

[Who]

Never expected the Celtics to take the first seed.

Always thought that there would be bad patch of results (due to injuries given the age of the roster and the recent injury proneness of several of the players) over a period of time that cost the Celtics top spot in the regular season.

Always expected Miami to claim the top spot. Boston and Orlando in second and third in some order with Chicago in fourth place.

I'd also agree with everyone who said Chicago would be the tougher test for Miami in the postseason than Orlando. The combination of Rose, their defensive strength and power of Boozer would cause them more problems than Orlando.

I have never liked Orlando's chances against the Heat. They matchup poorly against Miami.

[vinnie]

Right now, the Heat are up early in the 4th against the Rockets. If they win, that means they will be one game behind the C's for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. With the way that Miami has been playing, I just do not see the C's holding on to that top seed which, I believe, will be essential come playoff time.

Yes, one behind, but they already have 9 losses versus 6 for the C's. Of course, with the injuries, the C's should get to 9 losses in no time.

Honestly, I don't see any way, however, that the Celts end up with the number one seed in the east.

Why would you say that? You have a time travel machine that goes to the future?

It's called a prediction. I also don't think the Celtics will be healthy due to the age of the team.

[Change]

Right now, the Heat are up early in the 4th against the Rockets. If they win, that means they will be one game behind the C's for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. With the way that Miami has been playing, I just do not see the C's holding on to that top seed which, I believe, will be essential come playoff time.

Yes, one behind, but they already have 9 losses versus 6 for the C's. Of course, with the injuries, the C's should get to 9 losses in no time.

Honestly, I don't see any way, however, that the Celts end up with the number one seed in the east.

Why would you say that? You have a time travel machine that goes to the future?

It's called a prediction. I also don't think the Celtics will be healthy due to the age of the team.

Oh my goodness! Don't be such a pessimist. Too many great players on this team to let you down Vinnie. Celtics will be fine, Lighten up.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LanCLS_hIo4

[soap07]

Never expected the Celtics to take the first seed.

Always thought that there would be bad patch of results (due to injuries given the age of the roster and the recent injury proneness of several of the players) over a period of time that cost the Celtics top spot in the regular season.

Always expected Miami to claim the top spot. Boston and Orlando in second and third in some order with Chicago in fourth place.

I'd also agree with everyone who said Chicago would be the tougher test for Miami in the postseason than Orlando. The combination of Rose, their defensive strength and power of Boozer would cause them more problems than Orlando.

I have never liked Orlando's chances against the Heat. They matchup poorly against Miami.

Still, I don't see Chicago beating Miami in a best-of-seven series either. Yeah, it has some defensive weapons to slow down LeBron/Wade - but Miami is also the best defensive team in the league. In a defensive standoff, I think Miami would still win handily over Chicago. Wade or even LeBron could do a decent job on Rose defensively (not that Chalmers is a slouch defensively himself) and ditto for Bosh on Boozer.

I truly believe that the C's were Miami's only legitimate roadblock to the Finals. Here's hoping that KG's injury severity doesn't change that.

[Who]

Never expected the Celtics to take the first seed.

Always thought that there would be bad patch of results (due to injuries given the age of the roster and the recent injury proneness of several of the players) over a period of time that cost the Celtics top spot in the regular season.

Always expected Miami to claim the top spot. Boston and Orlando in second and third in some order with Chicago in fourth place.

I'd also agree with everyone who said Chicago would be the tougher test for Miami in the postseason than Orlando. The combination of Rose, their defensive strength and power of Boozer would cause them more problems than Orlando.

I have never liked Orlando's chances against the Heat. They matchup poorly against Miami.

Still, I don't see Chicago beating Miami in a best-of-seven series either. Yeah, it has some defensive weapons to slow down LeBron/Wade - but Miami is also the best defensive team in the league. In a defensive standoff, I think Miami would still win handily over Chicago. Wade or even LeBron could do a decent job on Rose defensively (not that Chalmers is a slouch defensively himself) and ditto for Bosh on Boozer.

I truly believe that the C's were Miami's only legitimate roadblock to the Finals. Here's hoping that KG's injury severity doesn't change that.

Fully agree -- I'd expect Miami to beat Chicago in a seven game series too + Boston is the only team capable of stopping Miami from winning the East.

I just think the Bulls would give them a tougher test than Orlando.

[PosImpos]

The Big 3 would have to stay healthy all year long for us to hold onto the #1 seed.  I think those of us who had realistic expectations knew that wasn't going to happen.

As long as KG isn't out for very long and Rondo comes back and stays on the court, I think we can expect to hold onto the #2 seed, though.

[angryguy77]

Hc for the finals is all that matters. We didn't need it in the east last year and we'll not need it this year. Let miami have it, the only way they take us out is if they have 4 games of officiating like la had in gm 7.  *If* we're healthy, no team in this conference will stop us. I try to be as realistic as I can and I just don't see any team stopping us from getting back to the finals if we have our important pieces in place.

No need to panic at this point. This team has proven to me that its the real deal.       

[LooseCannon]

It is easy to imagine 4 games where some of their guys get hot.

It is easy to imagine a series where Dwight Howard elbows a couple of your top players in game 1, knocking them out for the rest of the series.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

IT DOESNT MATTER IF WE DONT HAVE THE 1ST SEED OVER MIAMI. We really only need it for the lakers.Ive always felt that way. And the lakers are slumpin right now which is great news for us. But dont let that fool you. There's only one team that can take us out if they have homecourt and that's the lakers. Doesnt mean that we CANT beat them without the homecourt, but it makes it tougher. Not worried about goin on the road to miami.

[vinnie]

Lakers are not getting to the finals this year

[Brendan]

Completely agree that HC in the finals is more important than for eastern conf playoffs...

Especially if its a West Coast team (versus Texas) and the 2-3-2 format.

[Who]

The Celtics don't need homecourt to defeat the Lakers in the Finals.

Their added big man depth and post defense is more than enough to put them over the top against LA.

[dark_lord]

Right now, the Heat are up early in the 4th against the Rockets. If they win, that means they will be one game behind the C's for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. With the way that Miami has been playing, I just do not see the C's holding on to that top seed which, I believe, will be essential come playoff time.

hitting the panic button in december?!  jeez.  

bottom line, last year proved everything.....they can do whatever they want during the regular season and be ready for the postseason, regardless of standings, homecourt, etc.

injuries/health are the only thing to be concerned about

[gar]

Spurs are dominating right now. All comes down to who is healthy. Too hard to predict. We are deep and Orlando is deep. Not clear that Wade will be 100% in playoffs and he is key to the Heat's ability to run the ball. Without Wade they are worse than last years Cavs.

[soap07]

Right now, the Heat are up early in the 4th against the Rockets. If they win, that means they will be one game behind the C's for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. With the way that Miami has been playing, I just do not see the C's holding on to that top seed which, I believe, will be essential come playoff time.

hitting the panic button in december?!  jeez.  

bottom line, last year proved everything.....they can do whatever they want during the regular season and be ready for the postseason, regardless of standings, homecourt, etc.

injuries/health are the only thing to be concerned about

Last year was different. Miami is better than any team the Celtics had to go through last year. Right now, the Heat are playing well and Miller still hasn't shaken off the rust and without Haslem.  The Celtics also lost the NBA Finals in 7 games without homecourt...this stuff matters.