Clinched the Atlantic division, do we sit the big four until playoffs?

[gpap]

I'd rather see them play and try to get home court against Atlanta.  It just doesn't seem right to give up on a game that has some significance, on your home court, against your future opponent.  I'm not big on messages but I doubt Doc wants to let Atlanta develop good feelings playing in Boston even if it's against a squad that would hardly resemble the full strength Celtics.

Couldn't agree more. Talk about counting your eggs before they even hatch. How quickly we forget that without HCA, the Celtics likely don't win the title in 2008.

[Fafnir]

Hmmm..pretty sure home court advantage is up for grabs for Friday night's game. Why on earth would we "rest" our best players in arguably the most important game of the season?

Because we wont get HCA except for the first round no matter what. Similar to 2010 health should matter more.

Especially with KG/Bass looking tired lately.

[feckless]

I want home court advantage and teams loose flow with too much time off--sit only those that have to sit and cut minutes once we earn HCA for the 1st round.

[pearljammer10]

I say we play the entire team against the Hawks tomorrow night. Then sit at least the Heat game and maybe some for the Bucks game. If Allen and Petey can be healthy I give them big minute against Miami and rest pierce and KG. Probably even Rondo.

I dont think we should rest against the Hawks because if they beat us that will give them momentum and confidence to come after us harder in the first round.

[indeedproceed]

Sitting everyone just means they're rusty for game 1. Play everyone limited minutes.

[alajet]

Hmmm..pretty sure home court advantage is up for grabs for Friday night's game. Why on earth would we "rest" our best players in arguably the most important game of the season?

Because we wont get HCA except for the first round no matter what. Similar to 2010 health should matter more.

Especially with KG/Bass looking tired lately.

You're right. These last couple of weeks, any time a Celtic hit the ground, I kept holding my breath.
Maybe giving an off night instead of a complete shutdown till the playoffs is a better idea, as stated.

[Moranis]

Hmmm..pretty sure home court advantage is up for grabs for Friday night's game. Why on earth would we "rest" our best players in arguably the most important game of the season?

Because we wont get HCA except for the first round no matter what. Similar to 2010 health should matter more.

Especially with KG/Bass looking tired lately.

Well that isn't true.  Philadelphia could beat Chicago, which would give Boston home court in the second round.  And Orlando or New York might get hot and give Boston home court in the ECF. 

That said, I don't think our status in those game can change (perhaps orlando, but not the other two).  But, it won't matter if we don't beat Atlanta in the first round, and the Celtics are a bad road team.  Home court very easily could mean the difference between beating Atlanta and losing to Atlanta.  The Celtics can't give up on the rest of the regular season or one and done is quite possible.  That said if someone is injured, rest them, if guys are tired, cut back on the minutes, but just not playing guys is silly.

[Fafnir]

Hmmm..pretty sure home court advantage is up for grabs for Friday night's game. Why on earth would we "rest" our best players in arguably the most important game of the season?

Because we wont get HCA except for the first round no matter what. Similar to 2010 health should matter more.

Especially with KG/Bass looking tired lately.

You're right. These last couple of weeks, any time a Celtic hit the ground, I kept holding my breath.
Maybe giving an off night instead of a complete shutdown till the playoffs is a better idea, as stated.

Oh yeah I don't think a complete shutdown is a good idea. I just think that giving KG and Bass a night off before the playoffs is a very good idea. As would be restricting their minutes more going forward, even if that means playing Hollins. (puke)

[Fafnir]

Hmmm..pretty sure home court advantage is up for grabs for Friday night's game. Why on earth would we "rest" our best players in arguably the most important game of the season?

Because we wont get HCA except for the first round no matter what. Similar to 2010 health should matter more.

Especially with KG/Bass looking tired lately.

Well that isn't true.  Philadelphia could beat Chicago, which would give Boston home court in the second round.  And Orlando or New York might get hot and give Boston home court in the ECF.  

That said, I don't think our status in those game can change (perhaps orlando, but not the other two).  But, it won't matter if we don't beat Atlanta in the first round, and the Celtics are a bad road team.  Home court very easily could mean the difference between beating Atlanta and losing to Atlanta.  The Celtics can't give up on the rest of the regular season or one and done is quite possible.  That said if someone is injured, rest them, if guys are tired, cut back on the minutes, but just not playing guys is silly.

Philly isn't beating Chicago.

I do think HCA matters against the Hawks, but I think given how thin we are at the 4/5 giving Bass/KG a day off and playing them less is more important.

[KGs Knee]

Home court vs. Atlanta is meaningless.  The C's are the better team, they should beat Atlanta regardless.

If the C's can't beat Atlanta, than they weren't gong t beat Chicago or Miami.

Rest/health is more important.

[Employee8]

Hmmm..pretty sure home court advantage is up for grabs for Friday night's game. Why on earth would we "rest" our best players in arguably the most important game of the season?

HCA is not up for grabs tomorrow night.  If we win, we'll be 4-0 against the Hawks and sit at 38-26 while the Hawks will be at 37-26.

Next few games:

MIA at BOS
MIL at BOS

NYK at ATL
LAC at ATL
DAL at ATL

So if we lose the next 2 games, we'll be at 38-28.  And if the Hawks win the next 3 games, they'll be at 40-26 and get home court.  Of course, Orlando is in the mix.

ORL at UTH
ORL at DEN
CHA at ORL
ORL at MEM

Orlando is at 36-26 right now.  We have the 3-0 head-to-head advantage.  Best case scenario for Orlando is 40-26.

Basically after the game tomorrow night, if Orlando and Atlanta win the rest of the games this year, we need to win out to get HCA.  But Orlando and Atlanta have tough opponents coming up so I'm comfortable that 38-39 wins will get us the HCA for the first round.  So that means we need to win the next 2 of 3 games.  Worth it?  Probably not in my opinion.  Hopefully Milwaukee will be out of the playoff picture by the time we play them so that they won't bring high energy to the game.

[Fafnir]

The one bit of good news is that the Hawks schedule is pretty brutal down the stretch. They're at home but all good teams.

Boston, New York, LA Clippers, and Dallas

Everyone in all of those games will be playing for something.

[Moranis]

Hmmm..pretty sure home court advantage is up for grabs for Friday night's game. Why on earth would we "rest" our best players in arguably the most important game of the season?

Because we wont get HCA except for the first round no matter what. Similar to 2010 health should matter more.

Especially with KG/Bass looking tired lately.

Well that isn't true.  Philadelphia could beat Chicago, which would give Boston home court in the second round.  And Orlando or New York might get hot and give Boston home court in the ECF.  

That said, I don't think our status in those game can change (perhaps orlando, but not the other two).  But, it won't matter if we don't beat Atlanta in the first round, and the Celtics are a bad road team.  Home court very easily could mean the difference between beating Atlanta and losing to Atlanta.  The Celtics can't give up on the rest of the regular season or one and done is quite possible.  That said if someone is injured, rest them, if guys are tired, cut back on the minutes, but just not playing guys is silly.

Philly isn't beating Chicago.

I do think HCA matters against the Hawks, but I think given how thin we are at the 4/5 giving Bass/KG a day off and playing them less is more important.

Philly might beat Chicago.  They have actually outscored Chicago in the three games they have played (though is 1-2).  You just never know what will happen in the playoffs, though I certainly wouldn't be betting on Philly.

[Employee8]

Hmmm..pretty sure home court advantage is up for grabs for Friday night's game. Why on earth would we "rest" our best players in arguably the most important game of the season?

Because we wont get HCA except for the first round no matter what. Similar to 2010 health should matter more.

Especially with KG/Bass looking tired lately.

Well that isn't true.  Philadelphia could beat Chicago, which would give Boston home court in the second round.  And Orlando or New York might get hot and give Boston home court in the ECF.  

That said, I don't think our status in those game can change (perhaps orlando, but not the other two).  But, it won't matter if we don't beat Atlanta in the first round, and the Celtics are a bad road team.  Home court very easily could mean the difference between beating Atlanta and losing to Atlanta.  The Celtics can't give up on the rest of the regular season or one and done is quite possible.  That said if someone is injured, rest them, if guys are tired, cut back on the minutes, but just not playing guys is silly.

Philly isn't beating Chicago.

I do think HCA matters against the Hawks, but I think given how thin we are at the 4/5 giving Bass/KG a day off and playing them less is more important.

Philly might beat Chicago.  They have actually outscored Chicago in the three games they have played (though is 1-2).  You just never know what will happen in the playoffs, though I certainly wouldn't be betting on Philly.

Highest seed plays the lowest seed.  If Philly beats Chicago and Miami wins, Miami gets to play Philly.  And we play the next available team, most likely Indiana.

But if the favorites are expected to win, then it's Chicago-Boston and Miami-Indiana.

[Fafnir]

Hmmm..pretty sure home court advantage is up for grabs for Friday night's game. Why on earth would we "rest" our best players in arguably the most important game of the season?

Because we wont get HCA except for the first round no matter what. Similar to 2010 health should matter more.

Especially with KG/Bass looking tired lately.

Well that isn't true.  Philadelphia could beat Chicago, which would give Boston home court in the second round.  And Orlando or New York might get hot and give Boston home court in the ECF.  

That said, I don't think our status in those game can change (perhaps orlando, but not the other two).  But, it won't matter if we don't beat Atlanta in the first round, and the Celtics are a bad road team.  Home court very easily could mean the difference between beating Atlanta and losing to Atlanta.  The Celtics can't give up on the rest of the regular season or one and done is quite possible.  That said if someone is injured, rest them, if guys are tired, cut back on the minutes, but just not playing guys is silly.

Philly isn't beating Chicago.

I do think HCA matters against the Hawks, but I think given how thin we are at the 4/5 giving Bass/KG a day off and playing them less is more important.

Philly might beat Chicago.  They have actually outscored Chicago in the three games they have played (though is 1-2).  You just never know what will happen in the playoffs, though I certainly wouldn't be betting on Philly.

Highest seed plays the lowest seed.  If Philly beats Chicago and Miami wins, Miami gets to play Philly.  And we play the next available team, most likely Indiana.

This is the NBA, not the NFL. Once the brackets are set that's it.

That's why Memphis played the Thunder last year instead of the Lakers in the second round.