I think Celtics are better at the 3rd seed

[OsirusCeltics]

As it stands, here are the seedings

1st- Chicago Bulls
2nd- Miami Heat
3rd- Boston Celtics
4th- Orlando Magic
5th- Atlanta Hawks
6th- Philadelphia Sixers
7th- NY Knicks
8th- Indiana Pacers

-In the first round Celtics would face the Sixers in the first round. I think they match up well with them. They are playing very well, but I think they have no clear advantage against the Celtics, expect that they can run (which is not an advantage in the playoffs)

-I think this seed allows us to not have to play the Magic in the second round. We can beat them, but playing them takes alot out of the team and is extremely grueling (as was prevalent in last years playoffs)

-The top 2 seeds are in for a tougher series then most people think. The Indiana-Chicago matchup is going to really test the Bulls. Chicago is very mediocre and they would get exposed by their simplistic offense.

The Heat and the Knicks are pretty evenly matched IMO. They both play one on one basketball, and lack size. Knicks do have the advantage at the 1 position, and Carmelo is more dominant than Lebron in the clutch. Upsets seem very likely to me. Which would allow the Celtics a clearer path to the EFC

I think Celtics are good enough to beat any team in a 7 game series, but its about the rest, and limiting the wear and tear on your body from a long series

[Donoghus]

I'd rather not have to lose HCA in the 2nd round.  Just makes the road more difficult.  2 seed, I'm resigned to accepting.  Not that way with the 3 seed.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I rather be seeded #1, but from the looks of it, 3rd seed seems better than 2nd seed until we have to play Miami and they have home court.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Lou Williams out for season/playoffs?
http://twitter.com/#!/Collins019/status/55316178083659776

[fairweatherfan]

What's the opposite of sour grapes?  Sweet lemons?  Anyway, this is that.

I do think Miami will have a tougher time with NY than Philly, but other than that I'd much rather be higher in the standings.

[heitingas]

I said it before and repeat it, Bulls in the finals don't scare me, in fact I think they will lose to the Magic in the 2nd round and Howard will get the MVP award that everybody has handed to rose already.


But you need HCA against miami, you can't underestimate the power of the referees in the NBA, never.

edit:
does this roster scare people, the celtics team ? our veterans and rondo ? doc rivers ?

rose
bogans
deng
boozer/gibson -----compared to KG/BBD
noah/asik----------if healthy shaq/JO/krstic

just our size will kill that team, rondo will make rose his (expletive), ray a HOF, pierce is way better than deng..

[dlpin]

I don't care between 2 and 3rd seed, really. Not because of optimism, but because I don't think the celtics would have the legs to withstand their schedule if they have to go to a game 7.

[Marcus13]

that doesn't really make sense to me.  The first round should be a breeze anyway - by dropping from 2 to 3 we simply lose homecourt for the second round

[Rondo2287]

that doesn't really make sense to me.  The first round should be a breeze anyway - by dropping from 2 to 3 we simply lose homecourt for the second round

I know they don't defend but I want to avoid NY like the plague in the playoffs.

[Marcus13]

that doesn't really make sense to me.  The first round should be a breeze anyway - by dropping from 2 to 3 we simply lose homecourt for the second round

I know they don't defend but I want to avoid NY like the plague in the playoffs.

I feel you - if Melo, Billups, and Amare can get going at the same time...they can outscore anyone

[Tai]

As it stands, here are the seedings

1st- Chicago Bulls
2nd- Miami Heat
3rd- Boston Celtics
4th- Orlando Magic
5th- Atlanta Hawks
6th- Philadelphia Sixers
7th- NY Knicks
8th- Indiana Pacers

-In the first round Celtics would face the Sixers in the first round. I think they match up well with them. They are playing very well, but I think they have no clear advantage against the Celtics, expect that they can run (which is not an advantage in the playoffs)

The Knicks only have star power in Melo and Amare, and that's it. Apart from that, the Sixers are bigger in the paint and have better defensive stats. They're 8th in defensive efficiency vs the Knicks who are tied with the Suns at 22nd.
 

-I think this seed allows us to not have to play the Magic in the second round. We can beat them, but playing them takes alot out of the team and is extremely grueling (as was prevalent in last years playoffs)

Whether we get the 2nd or 3rd seed, we wouldn't have to face the Magic until the ECF, assuming they get that, and meaning they'd more than likely have to beat the Bulls in the 2nd round first.

Like I said in another topic, the only guy they have as far as size is Howard. They're quite honestly the same team as last season in that they live and die by the three, and now they don't even have Gortat anymore. I'm not worried about them, at all.

-The top 2 seeds are in for a tougher series then most people think. The Indiana-Chicago matchup is going to really test the Bulls. Chicago is very mediocre and they would get exposed by their simplistic offense.

I don't see the Pacers being a problem for the Bulls. Maybe I'm wrong. I feel like they don't match up well with the Bulls, especially anyone they put up against Rose. Deng, I'll take him over Granger, too.

The Heat and the Knicks are pretty evenly matched IMO. They both play one on one basketball, and lack size. Knicks do have the advantage at the 1 position, and Carmelo is more dominant than Lebron in the clutch. Upsets seem very likely to me. Which would allow the Celtics a clearer path to the EFC

True about neither team having size and both playing ISO ball, but that's why the Celtics would have a better time against the Knicks. Overpower them in the paint, and can defend their offense easier.

[Fafnir]

I'd rather play the Knicks, they don't have a strong enough defense to frustrate the C's offense. Philly plays better D, and thus could perhaps make things tough.

[Rondo2287]

I'd rather play the Knicks, they don't have a strong enough defense to frustrate the C's offense. Philly plays better D, and thus could perhaps make things tough.

Their offense and athleticism doesnt scare you though?

[GreenEnvy]

Whatever we get, we get.

I don't care where we land, so long as we are healthy. I believe with all teams at full strength, we have the best team. I don't care who or where we play, we can take anyone. That includes the anyone in the Eastern Conference, Texas, or the LaLa Land.

We lost HCA to Detroit in 2008, that wasn't a problem. We didn't have it against Cleveland last year, and won the last two games in the Q. We didn't have it against Orlando, and that didn't stop us from going up 3-0. And of course against LA, we had the opportunity to be up 2-0 coming home, but we let the first one get away. Bottom line we can win anywhere.

[Fafnir]

I'd rather play the Knicks, they don't have a strong enough defense to frustrate the C's offense. Philly plays better D, and thus could perhaps make things tough.

Their offense and athleticism doesnt scare you though?

New York now plays a sort of hybrid up tempo half court game, I think that plays into the C's strengths.

We also have good defenders at the 1, 3, and 4 to cover their offensive threats. Finally we can play Green if New York goes small and match their quick lineup easily.