So we're pretty much facing Atlanta and Bulls in second round?

[scaryjerry]

I think Atlanta could be a challenge in the first round.  I haven't really gotten to the point where I'm looking ahead to future match ups.  Just thinking about trying to beat the Hawks right now.

This isnt 2008. We will sweep the Hawks.

ummmm we were better in 2008 and won the championship and the Hawks still took us 7...youre ridicoulusly overconfident and ill just about guarantee we will not sweep the hawks

[kozlodoev]

We can beat both. Rose wont hold up, he has too many injuries.

The problem is the Bulls can beat us without Rose. They're that good.

[JSD]

I love the way the Celtics matchup against the Hawks with their big guys out.

[cman88]

We can beat both. Rose wont hold up, he has too many injuries.

The problem is the Bulls can beat us without Rose. They're that good.

I cant see it happening over a 7 game series though...regular season is one thing, but outside of Rose really, theres no real  go to scorers on that roster...

.KG/rondo are going to have to play out of their minds but it can happen...what scares me is their frontcourt with Noah, gibson, asik. we are going to NEED to rebound better because we cant afford to give them second chances/easy tip-ins

the Heat wouldve been a better matchup for us IMO with their lack of PG play/frontcourt

[Marcus13]

Yeah, last night really clinched both of those series.

Definitely gonna be a tough road.  I hope we get past Atlanta, at least.

[hpantazo]

it was going to be a tough road either way. If we realistically hope to go to the finals then we have to be prepared to beat both the bulls and the heat without homecourt, it's just a matter of when we face them, not if.

[Tai]

I think Atlanta could be a challenge in the first round.  I haven't really gotten to the point where I'm looking ahead to future match ups.  Just thinking about trying to beat the Hawks right now.

This isnt 2008. We will sweep the Hawks.

Gotta agree with scaryjerry here, I suppose it's possible, I do at least think we're better than the Hawks, so winning in 5 SHOULD be feasible. But in 4? I dunno, I don't think I can book that.

[j804]

I love the way the Celtics matchup against the Hawks with their big guys out.

Well supposedly Horford will be back for the first round

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/18624735/al-horford-cleared-for-contact-playoff-return-likely

[j804]

We can beat both. Rose wont hold up, he has too many injuries.

The problem is the Bulls can beat us without Rose. They're that good.

Indeed they play hard and keep coming at you and are pretty deep, us on the flip side like against the Knicks weve seen our bench completely disappear.

[feckless]

I'm probably not known for positivity, but if we stay healthy we can beat anyone in the east, especially if they're banged up.

This ain't your grandfather's Celtics any more.

Let's hope it is your grandfather's Celtics.  In 1969 the Celt's finished 4th in the East and won the NBA Championship!

[SHAQATTACK]

IMO I see it like this... we KNOW how hard the BULL's can play, they play FULLOUT every game against us . The Bull always play to win , no slackin...pretty much like the Celtics. So we have seen their best shot and know whats is comming.

The Heat is always the big question mark....and I don't believe we have played against them on a night when they are putting forth the effort that they can or seem to give a flip .  The Heat is a team of slackers and they put out when they feel like its worth the effort .

IF the HEAT decide to play and not be a bunch or babies and slackers they can destroy teams.

I would rather play the Bulls , knowing the strenght of whats comming than a Heat tornado can brew up at any moment.

I think with a rested team and playoff time between games and IF AB can slow down Rose to a 15-20 point game , we have a chance to win.  If Rose gets 40 points ...no we won't win.

[kozlodoev]

We can beat both. Rose wont hold up, he has too many injuries.

The problem is the Bulls can beat us without Rose. They're that good.

I cant see it happening over a 7 game series though...regular season is one thing, but outside of Rose really, theres no real  go to scorers on that roster...

Boozer and Deng are both pretty dangerous, as unremarkable as their season may have looked.

[Donoghus]

We can beat both. Rose wont hold up, he has too many injuries.

The problem is the Bulls can beat us without Rose. They're that good.

I cant see it happening over a 7 game series though...regular season is one thing, but outside of Rose really, theres no real  go to scorers on that roster...

Boozer and Deng are both pretty dangerous, as unremarkable as their season may have looked.

Dengue is the key guy there, IMO.  When he is on, that team is dangerous as heck.  However, when he's off, he can really disappear and that team seems to delve into a one dimensional mode and can become very beatable. 

[RebusRankin]

Both are beatable. Bulls it depends on Rose's health.

[cman88]

We can beat both. Rose wont hold up, he has too many injuries.

The problem is the Bulls can beat us without Rose. They're that good.

I cant see it happening over a 7 game series though...regular season is one thing, but outside of Rose really, theres no real  go to scorers on that roster...

Boozer and Deng are both pretty dangerous, as unremarkable as their season may have looked.

rebounds scare me more than deng/Boozer....we have better scorers on our team than the bulls(as a whole) but if we keep giving them 2nd chances, they will kill us.

Ill take bass vs. Boozer any day..boozer isnt there defensively with the rest of the guys...and Pietrus/Pierce should be able to handle deng.

like I said though, to have a chance Rondo/KG need to play lights out..