Who do the lower seeds want to play?

[CelticG1]

I think this is an interesting question. Would NY rather play us or the Heat or Bulls? What about Philly?

Who do you think the players would rather play and the coach? I could see the players thinking their best chance is against the Bulls but I bet coaches think differently. Would a coach not want to face Doc and rather coach against Spoelstra?

[Who]

New York would want to play Miami. I reckon they feel that their Big Three can go toe to toe with Miami's + that they complement one another better since Billups is a PG. False confidence ... but confidence nonetheless.

As for the rest of the possible matchups, I don't think they care one way or the other. Their chances are not significantly better or worse against any of the top three teams.

[Marcus13]

Teams are salivating at the mouth for an opportunity to play us this year.

Chicago doesn't lose and Miami has gotten a lot better down the stretch whereas we've gotten a lot worse

With that said, NY and Philly cannot beat Chicago, Miami, or Boston

[Chris]

The other lower seeds?

[BballTim]

Teams are salivating at the mouth for an opportunity to play us this year.

Chicago doesn't lose and Miami has gotten a lot better down the stretch whereas we've gotten a lot worse

  Seriously? You think teams are salivating to play a team that's been to the finals 2 of the last 3 years instead of two teams that have never won a playoff series as a group? You're putting *way* too much emphasis on the regular season.

[Shots]

I think New York would favor a meeting with the Heat for various reasons. In terms of 'superstars' this series would have it all, something the NY crowd would definitely be hyped for. Furthermore, from a Knicks perspective I could see arguments for Melo/LeBron matchup being a wash, Stoudamire/Bosh matchup slightly favoring the Knicks, while Wade would obviously dominate Fields. However, the remaining 'depth' of the Knicks is still superior to the Heat, or at least that is how I perceive it.

The 76ers have a 3-1 record against the Bulls I believe, however, I doubt they'd tank to the 8th seed, just to face them. They played us rather well in the first 3 matchups, so if they are not indifferent about their potential matchup, I'd think, even though they were just beaten, that they would favor meeting the Celtics.

[CelticG1]

Teams are salivating at the mouth for an opportunity to play us this year.

Chicago doesn't lose and Miami has gotten a lot better down the stretch whereas we've gotten a lot worse

  Seriously? You think teams are salivating to play a team that's been to the finals 2 of the last 3 years instead of two teams that have never won a playoff series as a group? You're putting *way* too much emphasis on the regular season.

Yeah i agree. Salivating at the mouth? That might be just a tad of an exageration. For one if you think this would be different if Perkins was here that would be laughable. I also don't see how these lower seeds would want to play us. For me I'd be more comfortable going against Rose and Chicago. The idea that their whole team relies on him shooting 25 shots a game and needing him to make more than he misses would have me salivating. Sounds exactly like a certain team that was dropped from the playoffs the last 3 years in a row

[footey]

Here in NY, local ESPN guy Brandon Tierney (who is Knicks expert) says that the Knicks should want to play Boston over Miami or Chicago.  Based on how we have been playing, hard to argue.  Of course, I think we can handle the Knicks.

[BballTim]

Here in NY, local ESPN guy Brandon Tierney (who is Knicks expert) says that the Knicks should want to play Boston over Miami or Chicago.  Based on how we have been playing, hard to argue.  Of course, I think we can handle the Knicks.

  If I could choose an opponent I'd think the easy choice would be Miami, who's had a lot of trouble closing out close games and scoring when opponents ratchet up the pressure.

[pearljammer10]

I think the Knicks will have high confidence whether they play us or the Heat. They think their big three can match up with the Heat and Im guessing the are thinking their high energy offense will be able to wear us down... If Im the lower seeds in the East, I dont really want to play any of the first 3 seeded teams because they are all so versatile and all are able to beat you in so many different ways.

[samantha28]

Based on the "enemy chatter" that redsarmy.com does, it appears as though the 76ers want to play Miami as well.

http://www.redsarmy.com/home/2011/04/enemy-chatter-sixersceltics-playoff-series-could-get-ugly.html

[chambers]

two teams nobody wants to meet in the playoffs over a 7 game sereis...
east: celtics
west: lakers

no debate. lock it in.

[LilRip]

i think NYK would want to play MIA's big 3 because that's the whole point of melo going there in the first place right? to match the Heat's moves?

and i've actually read the opposite from Sixer fans (note: fans, not the players, coach or anyone officially affiliated with the franchise ). They'd rather have us eliminate them in the first round rather than Miami so that the Sixer players can play/see good players with good habits in a playoff setting rather than the three-ring circus in Miami that gets by on pure talent and athleticism.