Only 1.5 games from the 4th seed

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

These next two games are GARGANTUAN for us. Indy and Atlanta. Especially since atlanta is in the 6th seed currently and it is a head to head.

So we very well could get the 4th seed like last year. However I do not see us catching the Knickerbockers for the Atlantic title. Just do not see that happening. So 4th looks like the best we can get.

[cltc5]

given how poorly this team played early on coupled with all the injuries, it's a near miracle we're sniffing a 4th seed.  Let's push for that Atlantic title!!!

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

given how poorly this team played early on coupled with all the injuries, it's a near miracle we're sniffing a 4th seed.  Let's push for that Atlantic title!!!

I'll be tickled pink if we can get the 4th seed and be 10 games over .500

i had said this awhile back we looked so mediocre for so long hovering between the 3games under/over window hopefully we have broken out of that for good and finish the season strong. It really was looking like we would struggle to even make the playoffs early on.

I know not having rondo can hurt us in the playoffs. I understand the playoffs is different than the regular season(where we have moved the ball well without rondo), however what i am hoping for is this:

we did not have AB, green, JET, Lee, crawford, or Wilcox last year..all of whom can contribute in some way. Yes i know JET and Lee were supposed to fill Ray's spot and i feel they have, albeit combined. Ray brought us nothing last year in the playoffs.JET will show up for the playoffs.

I also hope T-will can help along with one of these two new bigs(white and Randolph) as well. That would be huge.

[pearljammer10]

All year fans have been bashing the play of the team yet we have only been 3 to 4 games out of the fourth place slot. I've never really understood all the negativity. I started a thread like this a few months ago. Glad to see this fact get some appreciation.

[Loose Cannon]

I honestly believe the 7th is our best possible path to make it deep in the Playoffs (that's assuming the Knicks stay at 2nd and the Pacers stay at 3rd).

There's not an ounce of fear that the New York Knicks instill in me whatsoever. I'm almost positive we beat them in a 7 game series. Then the Pacers in the second round will be a little tougher but they don't have nearly the experience we do and are relying on a lot of young, unproven players. I think they would be a much, much more beatable team for us than the Bulls (who always give us trouble, even without Rose).

If we get the 4th seed we run the risk of meeting a rejuvenated Bulls team with a returning Derrick Rose in 1st round followed by the Heat (if we manage to get past Chicago). I think that is a nightmare path for us in the Playoffs.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

All year fans have been bashing the play of the team yet we have only been 3 to 4 games out of the fourth place slot. I've never really understood all the negativity. I started a thread like this a few months ago. Glad to see this fact get some appreciation.

probably because we looked very bad many games. coaching and playing wise. Negativity was just simply people looking at the process and it did not look good for quite some time. things seem to have improved though. Thankfully we play in the east and not the west.

[jdz101]

I honestly believe the 7th is our best possible path to make it deep in the Playoffs (that's assuming the Knicks stay at 2nd and the Pacers stay at 3rd).

There's not an ounce of fear that the New York Knicks instill in me whatsoever. I'm almost positive we beat them in a 7 game series. Then the Pacers in the second round will be a little tougher but they don't have nearly the experience we do and are relying on a lot of young, unproven players. I think they would be a much, much more beatable team for us than the Bulls (who always give us trouble, even without Rose).

If we get the 4th seed we run the risk of meeting a rejuvenated Bulls team with a returning Derrick Rose in 1st round followed by the Heat (if we manage to get past Chicago). I think that is a nightmare path for us in the Playoffs.

I agree with some of your points, but the pacers are currently second and show no signs of slowing. The knicks are third and are playing 500 basketball right now.

[Lightskinsmurf]

All year fans have been bashing the play of the team yet we have only been 3 to 4 games out of the fourth place slot. I've never really understood all the negativity. I started a thread like this a few months ago. Glad to see this fact get some appreciation.

Um, there was plenty of room for negativity when we were 20-23 looking like we might miss the playoffs. Lets not act like we've been playing great all season because that's far from the case.

[pearljammer10]

All year fans have been bashing the play of the team yet we have only been 3 to 4 games out of the fourth place slot. I've never really understood all the negativity. I started a thread like this a few months ago. Glad to see this fact get some appreciation.

Um, there was plenty of room for negativity when we were 20-23 looking like we might miss the playoffs. Lets not act like we've been playing great all season because that's far from the case.

How anyone actually thought that this team was going to miss the playoffs, especially after the way they started the season in the same manner the last two season, is far beyond my comprehension... Especially playing in the East.

People jump the gun on the negativity and dont take in factors like chemistry with new players, players returning from heart surgery, and old guys shaking off rust. It would be nice to see a little optimism around here.

[BballTim]

All year fans have been bashing the play of the team yet we have only been 3 to 4 games out of the fourth place slot. I've never really understood all the negativity. I started a thread like this a few months ago. Glad to see this fact get some appreciation.

Um, there was plenty of room for negativity when we were 20-23 looking like we might miss the playoffs. Lets not act like we've been playing great all season because that's far from the case.

  Most of the problems early on were due to so many new players needing to learn the system and (for Bradley/Green/Wilcox) get into playing shape. Things were never so dire that the playoffs were in doubt.

[CelticConcourse]

You jinxed it.

[BballTim]

You jinxed it.

 Me personally? Or were you referring to someone else? I'd hate to use up my jinxing power on something like this, I was saving it to put the whammy on Ray Allen.

[Lightskinsmurf]

All year fans have been bashing the play of the team yet we have only been 3 to 4 games out of the fourth place slot. I've never really understood all the negativity. I started a thread like this a few months ago. Glad to see this fact get some appreciation.

Um, there was plenty of room for negativity when we were 20-23 looking like we might miss the playoffs. Lets not act like we've been playing great all season because that's far from the case.

How anyone actually thought that this team was going to miss the playoffs, especially after the way they started the season in the same manner the last two season, is far beyond my comprehension... Especially playing in the East.

People jump the gun on the negativity and dont take in factors like chemistry with new players, players returning from heart surgery, and old guys shaking off rust. It would be nice to see a little optimism around here.

I didn't think they would miss the playoffs but that's not the point here. The point is they were playing so bad they weren't even in the top 8 seeds. They were 9th or 10th. So I don't understand how you can say you didn't understand the negativity. The celtics were playing like trash and underachieving greatly.

[CelticG1]

Love that we didnt blow it up and cant fathom people that wanted to.

The last two years I knew we would be alright while others were tearing up.

Too much talent on this team to be as bad as we played for parts ofblast year and parts of this year. Its like the lakers now. Too much talent for that record. Now they have second best record in nba since all star break.

Playoffs are fun. It was fun beating the hawks and sixers last year. Pierces game 2 vs atl and Rondos game 7 vs philly were FUN.

Yeah we lost to miami but id still take that over blowing it up last year not making the playoffs and just hoping that in the next 5 years we somehow could get lucky and make it one further round.

I suspect im gonna feel the same way after this years playoffs.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Love that we didnt blow it up and cant fathom people that wanted to.

The last two years I knew we would be alright while others were tearing up.

Too much talent on this team to be as bad as we played for parts ofblast year and parts of this year. Its like the lakers now. Too much talent for that record. Now they have second best record in nba since all star break.

Playoffs are fun. It was fun beating the hawks and sixers last year. Pierces game 2 vs atl and Rondos game 7 vs philly were FUN.

Yeah we lost to miami but id still take that over blowing it up last year not making the playoffs and just hoping that in the next 5 years we somehow could get lucky and make it one further round.

I suspect im gonna feel the same way after this years playoffs.

yeah i will have to agree on that. I actually hope PP and KG play one more year regardless what happens this year. I want to see this current team with a healthy sully.