The playoffs still a possibility

[Tr1boy]

To make the playoffs we'd have to win probably 35 games, which would mean for the rest of the season we'd have to go 13-6. Combined with last night, that's 14-6 of a 20 game stretch, or a .700 clip.  If we could pull that off, especially with some very difficult games left on the schedule, while I would be sad at the loss of a high draft pick, I'd feel much better about our team heading into next season.  That would indicate our team with a fully healthy Rondo is pretty strong.

I don't expect this to happen.  But I'd be okay with it.

+1. Your right about 35 wins and needing to go 13-6.

Ppl keep saying no. But can they honestly say yes to the hawks who are 1-9 in their last 10, or knicks with their horrible season, cavs, pistons who we beat last night?

[LilRip]

To make the playoffs we'd have to win probably 35 games, which would mean for the rest of the season we'd have to go 13-6. Combined with last night, that's 14-6 of a 20 game stretch, or a .700 clip.  If we could pull that off, especially with some very difficult games left on the schedule, while I would be sad at the loss of a high draft pick, I'd feel much better about our team heading into next season.  That would indicate our team with a fully healthy Rondo is pretty strong.

I don't expect this to happen.  But I'd be okay with it.

+1. Your right about 35 wins and needing to go 13-6.

Ppl keep saying no. But can they honestly say yes to the hawks who are 1-9 in their last 10, or knicks with their horrible season, cavs, pistons who we beat last night?

everyone's talking about Playoffs or Top5 Pick...

What if the C's play around .500 ball the rest of the year (going 9-10), ending up with a 31-51 record (which might be good for 10th in the East), missing the playoffs, and end up picking 11th or 12th overall?

[Tr1boy]

To make the playoffs we'd have to win probably 35 games, which would mean for the rest of the season we'd have to go 13-6. Combined with last night, that's 14-6 of a 20 game stretch, or a .700 clip.  If we could pull that off, especially with some very difficult games left on the schedule, while I would be sad at the loss of a high draft pick, I'd feel much better about our team heading into next season.  That would indicate our team with a fully healthy Rondo is pretty strong.

I don't expect this to happen.  But I'd be okay with it.

+1. Your right about 35 wins and needing to go 13-6.

Ppl keep saying no. But can they honestly say yes to the hawks who are 1-9 in their last 10, or knicks with their horrible season, cavs, pistons who we beat last night?

everyone's talking about Playoffs or Top5 Pick...

What if the C's play around .500 ball the rest of the year (going 9-10), ending up with a 31-51 record (which might be good for 10th in the East), missing the playoffs, and end up picking 11th or 12th overall?

Def a bad situation. But also ending the year on a high note.

Danny imo doesnt care about getting a top 3 pick like many others here are dying for. If he did like I said already he would of made it alot easier to happen. He cares more about trying to remain competitive, keep rondo for the long run, build a good system in place.  Worse case we get 11th or 12th plus the 18-20th pick, I have faith that danny will pick two quality players from a strong draft.  Not alot of difference in quality of talent from 6 to 17 imo

[saltlover]

To make the playoffs we'd have to win probably 35 games, which would mean for the rest of the season we'd have to go 13-6. Combined with last night, that's 14-6 of a 20 game stretch, or a .700 clip.  If we could pull that off, especially with some very difficult games left on the schedule, while I would be sad at the loss of a high draft pick, I'd feel much better about our team heading into next season.  That would indicate our team with a fully healthy Rondo is pretty strong.

I don't expect this to happen.  But I'd be okay with it.

+1. Your right about 35 wins and needing to go 13-6.

Ppl keep saying no. But can they honestly say yes to the hawks who are 1-9 in their last 10, or knicks with their horrible season, cavs, pistons who we beat last night?

everyone's talking about Playoffs or Top5 Pick...

What if the C's play around .500 ball the rest of the year (going 9-10), ending up with a 31-51 record (which might be good for 10th in the East), missing the playoffs, and end up picking 11th or 12th overall?

I think that scenario has us picking 9th-10th.  While disapppintjng, that's not the end of the world to me.  Outside of the top 4-5, there's a group of players who could go anywhere from about 5-12.  At our current pace, losing in the lottery could put us from 5th-7th.  It's not impossible the same player could be there at 9 or 10 as at 6.  Not the end of the world.  12th to 14th would  stink, but we'd need to finish with a few more wins for that to happen.

[Fafnir]

I don't see us managing .500 ball the rest of the year. The rest of the schedule in March is still tough. All playoff teams except for Knicks/Suns.

April we could definitely pick up some wins, but that's late in the season when things really get wonky.

[Tr1boy]

I don't see us managing .500 ball the rest of the year. The rest of the schedule in March is still tough. All playoff teams except for Knicks/Suns.

April we could definitely pick up some wins, but that's late in the season when things really get wonky.

By april if we are only 2-3 games behind 8th there is def a decent chance . We got one of the easier schedules to finish up the year

Regardless if we make it in or not, bc of aprils schedule imo will take us out of the running for a top 5 pick. Def top 3 unless we win the lotto

[D.o.s.]

I don't see us managing .500 ball the rest of the year. The rest of the schedule in March is still tough. All playoff teams except for Knicks/Suns.

April we could definitely pick up some wins, but that's late in the season when things really get wonky.

Suns are only a game or so out of the playoffs, too.

[D.o.s.]

I honestly cant believe some of you would actually be excited with seeing us make the playoffs rather than getting a top pick in the draft. These last 2 months are HUGE in terms of what direction this team takes over the next couple years. Making the playoffs and being a first round exit is the WORST possible scenario. It stunts our growth, makes us look like were something we aren't. This is not some young, up and coming team like the Indiana Pacers that just needs a veteran presence like David West to finally break through.

If you are happy to see this team make the playoffs this year then I hope you are happy with years of being below mediocrity. Even if Ainge doesnt  see a standout player in this draft, other teams do and that early pick could still be a fine tradeable asset.

It sucks that the NBA is the way it is, but unfortunately it is what it is and I care to much about Celtics basketball to watch first round exits year after year. I want to watch us compete for titles. Sorry to break it to you but Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger are not bringing us titles.

Put another way, you care too much about winning titles to watch Celtics basketball year after year.

No.

I said I care about the CELTICS competing for titles.

So do you only watch the C's when they're playing in the Finals?

[Q_FBE]

If we make the playoffs it will be a nightware situation for many "tank" fans. But i think won't be too upset as the team is moving fwd in the right direction.

KO at this rate will end up getting the ROY award.

Weed must be legal where you live.

Weed is legal where I live and I get off on the 2nd hand smoke. Life is good, man. I see the Celtics improving down the stretch but I don't see them being in the playoffs at this point. A player I am watching in this upcoming draft is Cleanthony Early, a Senior from Wichita St who I think would be a great replacement for Gerald Wallace or Jeff Green at SF. He is projected to be a late round 1st pick and if nobody else gets him, Larry Bird will draft this kid with his late round pick.

[LilRip]

To make the playoffs we'd have to win probably 35 games, which would mean for the rest of the season we'd have to go 13-6. Combined with last night, that's 14-6 of a 20 game stretch, or a .700 clip.  If we could pull that off, especially with some very difficult games left on the schedule, while I would be sad at the loss of a high draft pick, I'd feel much better about our team heading into next season.  That would indicate our team with a fully healthy Rondo is pretty strong.

I don't expect this to happen.  But I'd be okay with it.

+1. Your right about 35 wins and needing to go 13-6.

Ppl keep saying no. But can they honestly say yes to the hawks who are 1-9 in their last 10, or knicks with their horrible season, cavs, pistons who we beat last night?

everyone's talking about Playoffs or Top5 Pick...

What if the C's play around .500 ball the rest of the year (going 9-10), ending up with a 31-51 record (which might be good for 10th in the East), missing the playoffs, and end up picking 11th or 12th overall?

I think that scenario has us picking 9th-10th.  While disapppintjng, that's not the end of the world to me.  Outside of the top 4-5, there's a group of players who could go anywhere from about 5-12.  At our current pace, losing in the lottery could put us from 5th-7th.  It's not impossible the same player could be there at 9 or 10 as at 6. Not the end of the world. 12th to 14th would  stink, but we'd need to finish with a few more wins for that to happen.

no scenario will really be the "end of the world". Even if Sully gets permanently injured and Rondo leaves in FA, it still won't be "end of the world".

However, if i were to choose an outcome for the season, i'd say that the option i've laid out above is possibly the worst plausible outcome (barring anything crazy happening), although some could make the case that getting the 8th seed (and likely getting swept by Ind/Mia) is the worst possible outcome.

[Tr1boy]

If we make the playoffs somehow, would ppl rather face the heat or pacers in the first round? Who would we have a better chance to upset (though chances are pretty slim we beat either team)

[Phil125]

I'd like to see the ages of the people who want us to make the playoffs this year.

Go back to the 90's where we spent 10 years floundering pathetically.  I do not want to go through that again. 

Trade the pick for free agents?  What free agents?  There are exactly 3 players (KD, LBJ, Griffin*) in this league worth trading the house for and we are not getting any of them.  There is no KG scenario anywhere in the NBA for the next few years.  Its draft or bust.


*Last year I would not have touched him with a 10 foot pole.  Doc seems to be tapping into this guy though and he has been rounding out his game nicely.

[D.o.s.]

I'd like to see the ages of the people who want us to make the playoffs this year.

Go back to the 90's where we spent 10 years floundering pathetically.  I do not want to go through that again. 

Trade the pick for free agents?  What free agents?  There are exactly 3 players (KD, LBJ, Griffin*) in this league worth trading the house for and we are not getting any of them.  There is no KG scenario anywhere in the NBA for the next few years.  Its draft or bust.


*Last year I would not have touched him with a 10 foot pole.  Doc seems to be tapping into this guy though and he has been rounding out his game nicely.

I loved the 90's.


Michael Jordan was awesome.

[saltlover]

I'd like to see the ages of the people who want us to make the playoffs this year.

Go back to the 90's where we spent 10 years floundering pathetically.  I do not want to go through that again. 

Trade the pick for free agents?  What free agents?  There are exactly 3 players (KD, LBJ, Griffin*) in this league worth trading the house for and we are not getting any of them.  There is no KG scenario anywhere in the NBA for the next few years.  Its draft or bust.


*Last year I would not have touched him with a 10 foot pole.  Doc seems to be tapping into this guy though and he has been rounding out his game nicely.

I think you're vastly underrating LaMarcus Aldridge by not considering him.  Of the potentially available players out there, I think LMA is the one who can be a game-changer.  The problem is that extend- and- trade deals, like we got with KG, have been completely neutered by the new CBA.

[D.o.s.]

I'd like to see the ages of the people who want us to make the playoffs this year.

Go back to the 90's where we spent 10 years floundering pathetically.  I do not want to go through that again. 

Trade the pick for free agents?  What free agents?  There are exactly 3 players (KD, LBJ, Griffin*) in this league worth trading the house for and we are not getting any of them.  There is no KG scenario anywhere in the NBA for the next few years.  Its draft or bust.


*Last year I would not have touched him with a 10 foot pole.  Doc seems to be tapping into this guy though and he has been rounding out his game nicely.

I think you're vastly underrating LaMarcus Aldridge by not considering him.  Of the potentially available players out there, I think LMA is the one who can be a game-changer.  The problem is that extend- and- trade deals, like we got with KG, have been completely neutered by the new CBA.

That and the fact that the Blazers are a much better team than we are right now, so there's no reason for him to ask out.