Next Twelve Games

[Section301]

In the next twelve games, the Celtics face the Clippers twice, Milwaukee twice, Indiana and New Jersey . 

In the next twelve games, the Heat face Chicago twice, San Antonio twice, OKC, the Knicks and the Lakers. 

If ever there were a time to get some breathing room, this is it.  It would be helpful, of course, if we had a starting center. 

[fairweatherfan]

Yup, and the Bulls get Miami twice, at Orlando, the Hornets, Atlanta twice, and at the new-look Nets.  Injuries or not, this is our chance to get some separation again. 

Here's hoping the Bulls can knock off the Heat tonight to get us started.

[Fafnir]

After this stretch for the Heat, their schedule lightens up again. So if we're going to grab HCA in the East we'll need to get that separation.

[BballTim]

After this stretch for the Heat, their schedule lightens up again. So if we're going to grab HCA in the East we'll need to get that separation.

  There will only be 15 or so games left after that stretch. We wouldn't nee that much separation, just another couple of games.

[GreenEnvy]

After this stretch for the Heat, their schedule lightens up again. So if we're going to grab HCA in the East we'll need to get that separation.

  There will only be 15 or so games left after that stretch. We wouldn't nee that much separation, just another couple of games.

Eh, we've seen both the C's and Heat gain/drop 3+ games in the standings in as little as a week, so until we clinch, I want a cushion. The sooner the better.

Now is the time to go full-throttle, get the separation, and then coast. Two of our tougher games (@DEN and @UTH) just traded away their best player, so those games should be just a bit easier now.

[manl_lui]

with perkins out for 3 games, its going to be slightly harder to do it...

its definitely doable cuz we're facing teams below .500, but im smelling the starters logging 35+ minutes until at least one of our bigs come back, Semih can't handle 40 minutes without fouling out...

however, I agree, this is our time to make the gap wider between us and the Heat, and a nice time for the players to rest because theyre not as needed vs the contenders

[PosImpos]

I think our record during this stretch is going to be much worse than we'd like.  This is a tough part of the season, especially with all of our backups ailing or unreliable.

I still maintain that we're probably look at a #2 or #3 seed by the end of the season.  Hopefully I'm wrong, though.

[GreenEnvy]

I think our record during this stretch is going to be much worse than we'd like.  This is a tough part of the season, especially with all of our backups ailing or unreliable.

I still maintain that we're probably look at a #2 or #3 seed by the end of the season.  Hopefully I'm wrong, though.

I think January to mid-February is harder than post-ASB. Delonte and *SF pickup* should ease the burden on Pierce/Allen, and when Shaq comes back that should let BBD play more minutes at PF.

[Donoghus]

If we could somehow have a 3+ game lead for HCA on St Patrick's Day, I would be ecstatic.  The schedule certainly presents the opportunity to do that.

Anything less than that and I'd start to become real nervous about securing that #1 seed for the playoffs. 

[Fan from VT]

Considering our injuries, respective schedules, and the home/road splits, i think we really need a decent amount of separation now to get home court.

[fairweatherfan]

If we could somehow have a 3+ game lead for HCA on St Patrick's Day, I would be ecstatic.  The schedule certainly presents the opportunity to do that.

Anything less than that and I'd start to become real nervous about securing that #1 seed for the playoffs. 

Remember, we're already effectively up 2 in the loss column on Miami due to our head-to-head.  If tonight breaks well, we could be 3 losses up. 

Every win is a big one from here on out, and so is every loss.  Just have to hope the guys can keep putting up Ws and Miami and Chicago falter a bit.

[Fafnir]

After this stretch for the Heat, their schedule lightens up again. So if we're going to grab HCA in the East we'll need to get that separation.

  There will only be 15 or so games left after that stretch. We wouldn't nee that much separation, just another couple of games.

I know, getting a 4 or 5 game lead in the loss column combined with the tiebreaker should be enough.

Of course getting such a lead is the tough part.

[Fafnir]

If we could somehow have a 3+ game lead for HCA on St Patrick's Day, I would be ecstatic.  The schedule certainly presents the opportunity to do that.

Anything less than that and I'd start to become real nervous about securing that #1 seed for the playoffs. 

Remember, we're already effectively up 2 in the loss column on Miami due to our head-to-head.  If tonight breaks well, we could be 3 losses up. 

Every win is a big one from here on out, and so is every loss.  Just have to hope the guys can keep putting up Ws and Miami and Chicago falter a bit.

We also play both Chicago and Miami again this year correct? Those games will likely either put it away for one team, or pull the other team into a tie.

[Donoghus]

If we could somehow have a 3+ game lead for HCA on St Patrick's Day, I would be ecstatic.  The schedule certainly presents the opportunity to do that.

Anything less than that and I'd start to become real nervous about securing that #1 seed for the playoffs. 

Remember, we're already effectively up 2 in the loss column on Miami due to our head-to-head.  If tonight breaks well, we could be 3 losses up. 

Every win is a big one from here on out, and so is every loss.  Just have to hope the guys can keep putting up Ws and Miami and Chicago falter a bit.

Yeah, just looking at things starting March 31st, we're gonna hit a pretty brutal stretch to wrap up the regular season.  SA, ATL, DET, PHI, CHI, WSH, MIA, WSH, and NY

[hwangjini_1]

If we could somehow have a 3+ game lead for HCA on St Patrick's Day, I would be ecstatic.  The schedule certainly presents the opportunity to do that.

Anything less than that and I'd start to become real nervous about securing that #1 seed for the playoffs. 

good point. if boston has a 3 game lead over miami with 15 games left in the season, it will be difficult - though of course not impossible - for miami to finish ahead of the celtics.

since the celtics have won the regular season series between them, miami would HAVE to finish the final 15 games by gaining 4 games on the celtics.

so for the final 15 games with a boston +3 game lead....

if miami goes 15-0, celtics would need to finish 12-3. difficult, but not impossible for the celtics

if miami goes 13-2, celtics would need to finish 10-5. very doable for the celtics.


if miami goes 11-4, celtics would need to finish 8-7. A virtual lock for the celtics.

so these next 12 games are important ones. if miami falters and boston wins big, the celts are in great shape heading for the finish line.

and of course, if the celtics win the final game against miami, the heat may be cooked.