I think Celtics are better at the 3rd seed

[OsirusCeltics]

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.

TP
Exactly how I feel. Celtics are the best team right now and can win anywhere. The HCA is a luxury, not a necessity. I never knew the championship relied on 20,000 fans screaming against you on the free throw line 

[Chris]

I love rationalizations!

I do think there is a scenario where the 3rd seed could be good though.  

I think the first round is irrelevant.  C's and Heat are both going to cruise to the second round.  

However, I really believe that Miami's success and demise in the playoffs will be directly related to their emotional and mental responses to playoff basketball.  I think if they are able to get come confidence going against the C's, they are going to be a really hard out, while if they are knocked down early, I am not sure they will get up.

Now, obviously, having home court in the first two games would be very helpful in knocking them down early.  But the downside of that is that they then get to go home, and have another chance to resurrect themselves, and get the momentum back.  However, if the C's are able to go into Miami, and take one or both of those games, they will have a chance to really step on their throats in games 3 and 4 back in Boston, and I don't think Miami is mentally tough enough to come back from 3-0 or 3-1.

Now, don't get me wrong, I still think we are better off in the 2 seed, because the game 7 at home is a huge advantage.  But I can rationalize this with the best of them.

[Roy H.]

The Celtics should be able to get by either team without a huge problem, if they play with playoff intensity.  That being the case, I'd prefer home court against Miami.

[Jeff]

well, if we match up with the Sixers, at least they won't have Lou Williams (apparently this is a big deal)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Lou-Williams-8217-hamstring-injury-looms-large?urn=nba-wp894

[Fafnir]

well, if we match up with the Sixers, at least they won't have Lou Williams (apparently this is a big deal)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Lou-Williams-8217-hamstring-injury-looms-large?urn=nba-wp894

He's their 6th man by minutes played and their third guard.

Without him Meeks/Turner are going to have to play more that is going to hurt Philly. He's also a floor spacer for them, without being the one dimensionl player Meeks is.

[Who]

well, if we match up with the Sixers, at least they won't have Lou Williams (apparently this is a big deal)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Lou-Williams-8217-hamstring-injury-looms-large?urn=nba-wp894

Phily should play Evan Turner at the point while Lou Williams out.

I'd love to see that.

[Chris]

well, if we match up with the Sixers, at least they won't have Lou Williams (apparently this is a big deal)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Lou-Williams-8217-hamstring-injury-looms-large?urn=nba-wp894

Phily should play Evan Turner at the point while Lou Williams out.

I'd love to see that.

I would too...but it still is a killer for a team that was already thin on perimeter shooting.

[Fafnir]

well, if we match up with the Sixers, at least they won't have Lou Williams (apparently this is a big deal)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Lou-Williams-8217-hamstring-injury-looms-large?urn=nba-wp894

Phily should play Evan Turner at the point while Lou Williams out.

I'd love to see that.

I doubt Collins will trust Turner in that role.

[Who]

well, if we match up with the Sixers, at least they won't have Lou Williams (apparently this is a big deal)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Lou-Williams-8217-hamstring-injury-looms-large?urn=nba-wp894

Phily should play Evan Turner at the point while Lou Williams out.

I'd love to see that.

I would too...but it still is a killer for a team that was already thin on perimeter shooting.

Andres Nocioni will step in and take over Turner's role (has he already?) ... Noce is just as good a shooter, if not better, than Lou Williams.

I don't think this is much of a loss for Phily. They'll lose some ball-handling and dribble penetration (without Lou Will) but the Sixers will also gain a great deal of rebounding (Turner/Nocioni) + Turner's size at the point could create a mismatch which replaces that shot-creation loss.

So yeah, I don't think Phily loses much here. So long as Turner gets the call ... and not whoever their third string PG is (Antonio Daniels?).

The absence of Lou Williams will allow Turner to spend a lot more time on the ball + give more shot attempts and opportunities to impact a game. I think Turner can rise to the occasion and provide more for the Sixers + Nocioni can still do a decent job.

[Chris]

well, if we match up with the Sixers, at least they won't have Lou Williams (apparently this is a big deal)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Lou-Williams-8217-hamstring-injury-looms-large?urn=nba-wp894

Phily should play Evan Turner at the point while Lou Williams out.

I'd love to see that.

I would too...but it still is a killer for a team that was already thin on perimeter shooting.

Andres Nocioni will step in and take over Turner's role (has he already?) ... Noce is just as good a shooter, if not better, than Lou Williams.

I don't think this is much of a loss for Phily. They'll lose some ball-handling and dribble penetration (without Lou Will) but the Sixers will also gain a great deal of rebounding (Turner/Nocioni) + Turner's size at the point could create a mismatch which replaces that shot-creation loss.

So yeah, I don't think Phily loses much here. So long as Turner gets the call ... and not whoever their third string PG is (Antonio Daniels?).

I forgot about Nocioni.  I still think it hurts to lose any shooters though.  Unless they are going to break the glass on Kapono, the only average or better shooters they have are Meeks, Nocioni, and Holliday.  When the paint tightens up in the playoffs, that is going to really hurt them. 

[P2]

Home court my butt! If we take 1 of the first 2 games against Miami/Chicago, we have HCA, and we have shown in the past that we can do that.

[Kane3387]

I know we will win either series against Philly or NY but I don't think Philly can beat Miami and I think NY can. I also think NY believes that they can beat Miami but not so much us.

Melo relishes matchups with LeBron while Igoudala seems in awe of him. Amare hates the Heat you can tell and he owns Bosh. Billups is the x factor just like in their only game they played after the trade in which NY beat Miami in Miami. He will kill Bibby.

Wade will be tough but Landry Jones is a good role player type to keep him honest.

I think NY will get up to play Miami more then any other opponent and the Garden might be too much for the Heat in a close game. I could see the Heat folding away from Miami and being down 3-1 if they drop one in Miami.

Basically I think it's best if we get Philly and Miami gets NY, especially if we win sunday.

[vinnie]

I don't believe the Celtics are the best team right now and would like to see them get the highest seed possible. It was nice when they had a solid lead at the one seed.

[mc34]

The main reason you're saying we should get the 3 seed is because you'd rather play NY than Philly right? There's no guarantee that Philly finishes as the 6 and NY finishes as the 7. If we beat Philly and NY beats Toronto tonight (not a stretch by any means), the Knicks are only 1 game behind with a head to head on Wednesday night. Not to mention 4 or so games after that

[OsirusCeltics]

The main reason you're saying we should get the 3 seed is because you'd rather play NY than Philly right? There's no guarantee that Philly finishes as the 6 and NY finishes as the 7. If we beat Philly and NY beats Toronto tonight (not a stretch by any means), the Knicks are only 1 game behind with a head to head on Wednesday night. Not to mention 4 or so games after that

Actually, its the opposite. I rather Celtics get Philly in the 1st round. They have been playing better recently, but the Celtics would be able to beat them easier. Knicks at the 7 seed have the ability to upset the Heat, they have the weapons