Did the Bradley/Rose/Howard injuries nearly guarantee a Miami trip to Finals?

[j804]

I'm pretty sure they are licking their chops upon hearing Bradley is done for the year. The Magic with Howard could have wore Miami down or upset them unlikely but ya never know especially with the Bosh injury. I think Chicago with Rose could have beat Miami and were the favorites to come out the east.

It would have been us next with a shot of beating Miami but WITH Avery Bradley, Wade and James both even said how much of a difference he makes and how we are a different team with him on the floor. He meant that much to us its hard now not seeing them all but making the Finals hopefully only to get their butt kicked by OKC or SA.

[Chelm]

I'm pretty sure they are licking their chops upon hearing Bradley is done for the year. The Magic with Howard could have wore Miami down or upset them unlikely but ya never know especially with the Bosh injury. I think Chicago with Rose could have beat Miami and were the favorites to come out the east.

It would have been us next with a shot of beating Miami but WITH Avery Bradley, Wade and James both even said how much of a difference he makes and how we are a different team with him on the floor. He meant that much to us its hard now not seeing them all but making the Finals hopefully only to get their butt kicked by OKC or SA.

I hope they get swept.  I'll be rooting for the Western conference so powerfully if they make it.  I also hope Bosh isn't back.  I know it gives them a legitimate excuse, but I really don't care; I just don't want any rings on their hands.

[thestackshow]

The only good thing about the Celtics going down this year is that we can still watch the finals and root for whoever comes out of the west to beat the heat.

[LarBrd33]

Bradley isn't on the level of a Horford, Rose, Lin, Howard, Noah or Bosh.  Every team is dealing with injuries.  If Miami can make the finals with 1.5 players (LeBron and a gimpy Wade)... my hat's off to King James.  

Celtics have their entire starting 5 active (I still consider Ray a starter).  All 4 of our big 4 are playing.  I know we're hurt... but we basically have no excuse to not make the finals.  We couldn't have asked for an easier path.

[Who]

No -- The Celtics still have a fair shot at knocking them out so long as Bosh is on the sidelines.

[Mr October]

I don't think that Bradley's presence makes much of a difference in the minds of Miami. They should expect themselves to be the favorites in the East regardless.

Prior to the playoffs, the Bulls with Rose were thought to be their only roadblock in the East.

[Finkelskyhook]

NO

[GreenFaith1819]

Nope.

Games still have to be played.

I know that BOS will come out on fire on Saturday. I'm looking forward to BOS moving on and playing MIA/Indy into June.

You never know WHAT could happen.

[cman88]

Bradley isn't on the level of a Horford, Rose, Lin, Howard, Noah or Bosh.  Every team is dealing with injuries.  If Miami can make the finals with 1.5 players (LeBron and a gimpy Wade)... my hat's off to King James.  

Celtics have their entire starting 5 active (I still consider Ray a starter).  All 4 of our big 4 are playing.  I know we're hurt... but we basically have no excuse to not make the finals.  We couldn't have asked for an easier path.

ya, Avery bradley is a good player. but he's not making or breaking our season IMO...he's a roleplayer. and if one roleplayer goes down it means someoene else just has to step up...we have guys like Pietrus, pavlovic who were key roleplayers on contending east teams. those guys have a chance to step up in a big way.

it comes down to the big 4..

and besides theres a posibility Miami could be playing a game 7 Saturday as well

[RajonRondo9Dime]

No -- The Celtics still have a fair shot at knocking them out so long as Bosh is on the sidelines.

LOL

We are in a game 7 with Philly, and we have looked absolutely terrible in most of our playoff games... And yet you think we can beat Miami without Bosh...?

Where do I get those green glasses?

[GreenFaith1819]

No -- The Celtics still have a fair shot at knocking them out so long as Bosh is on the sidelines.

LOL

We are in a game 7 with Philly, and we have looked absolutely terrible in most of our playoff games... And yet you think we can beat Miami without Bosh...?

Where do I get those green glasses?

You can have a pair of mine.

Even though things look a bit bleak, don't forget that this IS Boston:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBHLhypJhMY

Perhaps my favorite game of all time.

"Never stop believing, Baby!!" - Doc Rivers.

"ONE MORE...ONE MORE, C's!! Let's go!" - Paul Pierce

[green7]

all 3 of those players wear Adidas lol

[RajonRondo9Dime]

No -- The Celtics still have a fair shot at knocking them out so long as Bosh is on the sidelines.

LOL

We are in a game 7 with Philly, and we have looked absolutely terrible in most of our playoff games... And yet you think we can beat Miami without Bosh...?

Where do I get those green glasses?

You can have a pair of mine.

Even though things look a bit bleak, don't forget that this IS Boston:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBHLhypJhMY

Perhaps my favorite game of all time.

"Never stop believing, Baby!!" - Doc Rivers.

"ONE MORE...ONE MORE, C's!! Let's go!" - Paul Pierce

I completely believed in this team when I thought Ray was coming back healthy... When I thought Bradley was healthy and capable of playing well in the playoffs... And when Pietrus was hitting shots...

They can have all the heart, "grit and balls", and all the inspiring pep talks from Doc, they cannot overcome the injury bug/father time.

[esel1000]

you forgot the part where lebron tears his acl in tonight's game.... oh wait nvm.

nah im jking I wouldnt want to see a player get an injury at that level (even lebron james), though I do think the celtics still have a shot against a boshless heat. If they play the way they did last night...swept. If they play the way they did in game 4... have a shot.

[Celtics18]

Bradley isn't on the level of a Horford, Rose, Lin, Howard, Noah or Bosh.  Every team is dealing with injuries.  If Miami can make the finals with 1.5 players (LeBron and a gimpy Wade)... my hat's off to King James.  

Celtics have their entire starting 5 active (I still consider Ray a starter).  All 4 of our big 4 are playing.  I know we're hurt... but we basically have no excuse to not make the finals.  We couldn't have asked for an easier path.

Wait, what?!!  Wade's out there, isn't he?  If you don't want to make excuses for the Celtics, that's completely cool, but don't go making excuses for the other guys, please.