As an 8th seed, could the Celtics upset Miami or Chicago ?

[green7]

if a great trade happens at the deadline, i can see boston finishing the season on a nice streak. and once the playoffs start i can see them upsetting chicago and face miami in the ECF do i see them beating miami? no

[KGs Knee]

I could see a plausible scenario where the Celtics could upset the Bulls as a 7/8 seed. No chance of beating Miami in the 1st round though. 

Maybe if we got a couple of playoff series victories, we might be able to build enough momentum though to beat Miami later in the playoffs.

[Celtics18]

It's definitely possible.  I think the talent level on this team is simply too high for them not to find a good rhythm of winning basketball at some point again this season.  Hopefully, they can be in that rhythm when the playoffs hit.  If that's the case the Miami Heat (or the Bulls) could really be feeling the heat.

[MBz]

It's definitely possible.  I think the talent level on this team is simply too high for them not to find a good rhythm of winning basketball at some point again this season.  Hopefully, they can be in that rhythm when the playoffs hit.  If that's the case the Miami Heat (or the Bulls) could really be feeling the heat.

We can only say that for so long though.  We're 30 games in and it still hasn't happened yet.  I know we can say that's due to injuries, but this is an old team, we're going to deal with injuries all year.  We do not have a chance of beating Miami, I do think we can deal with Chicago because they aren't a great offensive team like us.  I don't think I'd bet on anyone beating Miami to be honest, they just have to much talent. 

[Celtics18]

It's definitely possible.  I think the talent level on this team is simply too high for them not to find a good rhythm of winning basketball at some point again this season.  Hopefully, they can be in that rhythm when the playoffs hit.  If that's the case the Miami Heat (or the Bulls) could really be feeling the heat.

We can only say that for so long though.  We're 30 games in and it still hasn't happened yet.  I know we can say that's due to injuries, but this is an old team, we're going to deal with injuries all year.  We do not have a chance of beating Miami, I do think we can deal with Chicago because they aren't a great offensive team like us.  I don't think I'd bet on anyone beating Miami to be honest, they just have to much talent. 

It has happened; It just hasn't happened consistently.  As bleak as things look right now, this team is not out of it yet.

[MBunge]

I don't think I'd bet on anyone beating Miami to be honest, they just have to much talent. 

Eh.  Miami is hella-good but they're not any different than they were last year.  If Dallas could beat them, they're still beatable.

Mike

[MrMorrill]

I don't think I'd bet on anyone beating Miami to be honest, they just have to much talent. 

Eh.  Miami is hella-good but they're not any different than they were last year.  If Dallas could beat them, they're still beatable.

Mike

With out changing their roster they did get better though. James and Wade tandem looks better then last year and Bosh has accepted his role and steps up quite a bit. The C's would really have to buckle down.

 I'd rather take my chances with the Bulls... In a close game if you can shut down Rose you shut down their team.

[bostonpatriot]

I think they can beat the Bulls if they are in form and completely healthy. Underdogs. 30% chance. It'd depend on their ability to deny Chicago a large advantage on second chance points.

[guava_wrench]

Miami is very vulnerable to Rose injuries bad back + bad foot = good chance.

The answer is always 'yes' to 'could'. The probabilities are just exceedingly low.

[WeMadeIt17]

Would need a rebounder by then though.. if we could find a good starting center who actually boards then yes anything is possible but if we go into the playoffs with what we have then no we do not

[Inside-Out]

On the off chance that we're healthy in the playoffs for the first time in four years...

AND we make some type of adjustment (roster or otherwise) to control the defensive glass...

AND some type of new offensive threat emerges, either by roster adjustment or otherwise (e.g. Rondo/Wilcox getting something going together, Pierce/Rondo in the post)...

AND marginal contributors step up and fill the available roles (e.g. Bradley gets more consistent 18ft jumpers, Steimsma becomes consistent enough for 10 regular minutes, Bass gets as aggressive on the boards as he is with his jumper)...

AND the opponent has an injury to their superstar, THEN

nobody can beat us in 7 games.

[LooseCannon]

If the Celtics were an 8th seed, there is probably no 8th seed in the history of 8th seeds in the NBA playoffs who would have a better chance of upsetting a #1 in the first round.

[ManUp]

Is it a possibility yes, but is it a likely outcome no. Miami is basically built to beat us. They're star studde, play great defense and have the best transition game in the league. They thrive on turnovers and we turn the ball over a lot and that's just gift wrapping them points.  Chicago would put a vice grip on our offense. We would probably keep losing close games in the fourth when our offense stalls while Rose takes over.

[Green Pride]

One thing I don't get is why everyone says we need to avoid the 7 or 8 seed. The goal is to win the whole thing, and to do that, you in all likelihood need to beat both Chicago and Miami. Who's to say it wouldn't be easier to be the 8 seed, face Chicago first, then play Atlanta/Orlando, and then get Miami? Wouldn't that be an easier road then playing Heat and Bulls in succession in the second and third rounds -- wouldn't it better to play an easier team in between? (All of this dependent upon us getting healthy, Danny not blowing it up, and playing the way we were when we won 9 or 10.) I'm not saying it's likely, but in terms of order of opponents, it might be preferable to be the 7 or 8 seed.

[Inside-Out]

If the Celtics were an 8th seed, there is probably no 8th seed in the history of 8th seeds in the NBA playoffs who would have a better chance of upsetting a #1 in the first round.

With the exception of the 8th seed back in the magical year of '69.