Almost 30 percent into the season and still under .500

[vinnie]

Someone started a post earlier today asking if the Celtics could win 50 games. I. of course, responded no way and that it would be a stretch for them to win 40. I initially said 38 to start the season, but I am now at a range of 35-38. And, even that could be a stretch if Rondo is really going to be out for another month and if they don't find a real center.

The easy part of the season ends in the next few weeks. Tons of road games in March and April. So, are any of you guys resetting your win expectations?

What about playoff seed? I am still at 5th - 7th?

[cman88]

I still think we'll end up 35-38 games this season..and end up with a 4th or 5th seed...we really have only started to look like ourselves this past week with Pierce/KG finally hitting their stride

we have a pretty manageable stretch coming up cavs/raptors/knicks/grizzlies(not that the knicks/grizzlies will be easy but they are beatable and we usually get up for good teams)

[FallGuy]

Some started a post earlier today asking if the Celtics could win 50 games. I. of course, responded now way and that it would be a stretch for them to win 50. I initially said 38 to start the season, but I am now at a range of 35-38. And, even that could be a stretch if Rondo is really going to be out for another month and if they don't find a real center.

The easy part of the season ends in the next few weeks. Tons of road games in March and April. So, are any of you guys resetting your win expectations?

What about playoff seed? I am still at 5th - 7th?

That's about right although if that's what the team looks like a month from now, might be time to sell off assets.

[cman88]

our record is skewed because of how horribly we started off the season...if we are still sub or around .500 in a month ill start the panic parade.

but besides tonights hiccup, this past week has given me hope of what I think the celtics are going to actually look like going forward...I feel a nice Run coming on

[BballTim]

  If the Celts don't finish with a seeding that has Miami and Chicago playing each other before they'd face the Celts then it really doesn't matter how many wins they get or what seed they are, just how healthy and how well they're playing when the playoffs roll around.

[ScoobyDoo]

Couldn't be happier. Slide into the playoffs in the sixth seed, get "better" draft pick in strong draft. Win 1st round, maybe sneak out of second round and make some more noise - earnest rebuilding underway in off season.

Perfect season for me.

[PosImpos]

The Celtics are locked into the 7th seed, if you ask me.

[ianboyextreme]

Thats what happens when you have a horrible start. Were not playing like that anymore.

[PosImpos]

Couldn't be happier. Slide into the playoffs in the sixth seed, get "better" draft pick in strong draft. Win 1st round, maybe sneak out of second round and make some more noise - earnest rebuilding underway in off season.

Perfect season for me.

How is that scenario better, in the big picture, than missing the playoffs and getting a lottery pick?

Winning a playoff series and losing in the 2nd round again has no value other than giving the owners revenue from playoff tickets.

[BballTim]

The Celtics are locked into the 7th seed, if you ask me.

  They may end up there (again, it doesn't make a ton of difference) but I wouldn't consider Orlando (currently in a free-fall), Atlanta (no Horford) or even the Pacers locks to stay ahead of us. I don't think that 4 games down with 45+ remaining falls into the category of insurmountable deficits.

[mqtcelticsfan]

Couldn't be happier. Slide into the playoffs in the sixth seed, get "better" draft pick in strong draft. Win 1st round, maybe sneak out of second round and make some more noise - earnest rebuilding underway in off season.

Perfect season for me.

How is that scenario better, in the big picture, than missing the playoffs and getting a lottery pick?

Winning a playoff series and losing in the 2nd round again has no value other than giving the owners revenue from playoff tickets.

Because at least we get to watch some playoff basketball this year? I understand your position, but it's no fun to root for the team to be the 9 seed in the East.

[PosImpos]

Couldn't be happier. Slide into the playoffs in the sixth seed, get "better" draft pick in strong draft. Win 1st round, maybe sneak out of second round and make some more noise - earnest rebuilding underway in off season.

Perfect season for me.

How is that scenario better, in the big picture, than missing the playoffs and getting a lottery pick?

Winning a playoff series and losing in the 2nd round again has no value other than giving the owners revenue from playoff tickets.

Because at least we get to watch some playoff basketball this year? I understand your position, but it's no fun to root for the team to be the 9 seed in the East.

Not much fun, no, but honestly I don't think there's much fun in watching this team get murdered in the first round by a top seeded team.

I know there are plenty of people who would rather see this squad play another playoff series or two rather than move up a few spots in the draft, but I've watched plenty of playoff series in the last 4 years -- enough to appreciate the difference between a "glad we got to participate" series and a real playoff run.

[BballTim]

Couldn't be happier. Slide into the playoffs in the sixth seed, get "better" draft pick in strong draft. Win 1st round, maybe sneak out of second round and make some more noise - earnest rebuilding underway in off season.

Perfect season for me.

How is that scenario better, in the big picture, than missing the playoffs and getting a lottery pick?

Winning a playoff series and losing in the 2nd round again has no value other than giving the owners revenue from playoff tickets.

  In that case, they should try and win in the second round.

[PosImpos]

Couldn't be happier. Slide into the playoffs in the sixth seed, get "better" draft pick in strong draft. Win 1st round, maybe sneak out of second round and make some more noise - earnest rebuilding underway in off season.

Perfect season for me.

How is that scenario better, in the big picture, than missing the playoffs and getting a lottery pick?

Winning a playoff series and losing in the 2nd round again has no value other than giving the owners revenue from playoff tickets.

  In that case, they should try and win in the second round.

Okay.

[Celtics4ever]

We really need to finish fifth or sixth at least and that is going to take some improvement in our play.   No one wants to be seventh or eighth and face MIA or CHI in the first round.

Right now,if PP got injuried again we'd be lottery bound, I think.   an injury to KG could do the same thing.