Celtics Playoffs Standings Watch thread (27-22, tied for 3rd place)

[celticsclay]

If Celtics win tomorrow and Warriors beat the Pacers, we will be tied for third place in the east?
Is that correct?

[saltlover]

No.  We play Wednesday.  Teams such as the Raptors, Hawks, and Heat, who all have better records than us, are in action.  If we beat Chicago and all those teams lose, then we'd move up a lot.

But we're only 1.5 games behind Cleveland, despite being in 8th place. It's incredibly bunches in the East through 20 or so games.  It's like the West last year, but even moreso.

[CelticPride2016]

This is what I'm talking about. This season is a work in progress. The Celtics as constituted are making the playoffs. Not only that, they have the potential to end up as a top seed and sneak into the Finals. People fixated on tanking and treadmills are missing out on the pure joy of being a Celtics fan and of a team on the rise.

[celticsclay]

So apologies for the mix up on dates, but yes we are in an exciting position at the moment.
Let's enjoy it.

 Cleveland at Portland
-  Cavs are at home tonight as heavy favorites. If the upset were to occur they would only have one less loss than the celtics

Warriors at Pacers

- Can warriors see their magical run end in Indiana? I think that the depth of the Warriors will outlast the pacers and Ezeli, Bogut and Green will provide a challenge for the Pacers weak frontcourt. A loss would give them the same amount of losses as the Celtics.

Magic at Nuggets

- This is a double game as a win from the Nuggets provides further separation from the Nets at the bottom of the standings and the Magic are right on our heels for the playoffs. When Galinari has shot well, Mudiay has limited the turnovers and they have gotten surprise scoring from Barton, the Nuggets have actually looked half decent. However, Magic have more talent and equal youth at just about every position. Only hope is that they struggle on road. 

Other games of Note:

Rockets play Nets in Brooklyn. Rockets are 4 point favorite and have already shown they can lose to absolutely any team (having lost to the Nets once already). I am nervous the Nets could win this game coming off back to back embarassments. A loss could be pivotal in the Nets starting to get demoralized.

[celticsclay]

Not so surprising, the warriors are completely pummeling the the pacers. Much more surprising the Blazers are beating the Cavs by 12 early second quarter in Cleveland. Cleveland does seem a bit off this year. Would still be scared as heck of them in playoffs, but Lebron's teams don't usually lose this often when he is healthy.

[celticsclay]

With tonights win we moved into a 3 way tie for 5th in the East. We remain a half a game between toronto, atlanta, charlotte and one full game behind Cleveland.

When you look at those teams ahead of us, none of them are playing great ball. Charlotte did completely blow out the heat tonight without Jefferson. It is very easy to get excited about a first round matchup with one of those teams (or tonight's opponent the bulls).

[LarBrd33]

They are playing fantastic ball.  Over the next month, it's going to be interesting as players become available if Boston pulls the trigger on a deal that can take them to the next level.   There's holes and the team has a limited ceiling, but it's not unthinkable that we could add a huge piece and be a contender over the second half.

[celticsclay]

They are playing fantastic ball.  Over the next month, it's going to be interesting as players become available if Boston pulls the trigger on a deal that can take them to the next level.   There's holes and the team has a limited ceiling, but it's not unthinkable that we could add a huge piece and be a contender over the second half.

Most positive thing I can recall you saying in recent memory. I don't disagree they need another piece. However, I am starting to think that Isiah Thomas, while with limitations, will be an all-star. Which is pretty cool. He is definitely a better piece than I thought he was when he acquired him.

With respect to the playoff watch, I think it is easy to forget that wins and losses count the same right now as they do in april, and what is happening now is every bit as important, just with less attention. Tonight both the Bulls and especially Hawks are underdogs. If those two lose we move into a tie for 4th.

On the non playoff end we have the toilet bowl. Will be interesting to see how the 76ers play the nets after their management change. Perhaps they come out energized and pull the upset.

[Celtics18]

They are playing fantastic ball.  Over the next month, it's going to be interesting as players become available if Boston pulls the trigger on a deal that can take them to the next level.   There's holes and the team has a limited ceiling, but it's not unthinkable that we could add a huge piece and be a contender over the second half.

Most positive thing I can recall you saying in recent memory. I don't disagree they need another piece. However, I am starting to think that Isiah Thomas, while with limitations, will be an all-star. Which is pretty cool. He is definitely a better piece than I thought he was when he acquired him.

With respect to the playoff watch, I think it is easy to forget that wins and losses count the same right now as they do in april, and what is happening now is every bit as important, just with less attention. Tonight both the Bulls and especially Hawks are underdogs. If those two lose we move into a tie for 4th.

On the non playoff end we have the toilet bowl. Will be interesting to see how the 76ers play the nets after their management change. Perhaps they come out energized and pull the upset.

TP.  Did you come up with that?  It's awesome!!

[PhoSita]

They are playing fantastic ball.  Over the next month, it's going to be interesting as players become available if Boston pulls the trigger on a deal that can take them to the next level.   There's holes and the team has a limited ceiling, but it's not unthinkable that we could add a huge piece and be a contender over the second half.

The Celts are playing very well. 

However, to be a "contender" this year -- let's assume that means making the Finals and not beating the Warriors, which nobody is going to do unless there's a catastrophic injury -- I think that "huge piece" would have to be somebody like Anthony Davis or Paul George.


Playing as they are now, the Celts might have a chance to win a playoff series against one of the East teams that isn't Cleveland.  That's a lot better than I assumed they'd be.  I still reserve my skepticism that a team that profiles like the Celts (reliant on depth and team defense without any really great individual matchups) can win in the playoffs.

Regardless, the fact that it's even a discussion at this point in the rebuild, while we still have some hope of receiving a top 5 pick (and virtually assured of getting a top 10 pick) from the Nets, is pretty cool.

[celticsclay]

They are playing fantastic ball.  Over the next month, it's going to be interesting as players become available if Boston pulls the trigger on a deal that can take them to the next level.   There's holes and the team has a limited ceiling, but it's not unthinkable that we could add a huge piece and be a contender over the second half.

The Celts are playing very well. 

However, to be a "contender" this year -- let's assume that means making the Finals and not beating the Warriors, which nobody is going to do unless there's a catastrophic injury -- I think that "huge piece" would have to be somebody like Anthony Davis or Paul George.


Playing as they are now, the Celts might have a chance to win a playoff series against one of the East teams that isn't Cleveland.  That's a lot better than I assumed they'd be.  I still reserve my skepticism that a team that profiles like the Celts (reliant on depth and team defense without any really great individual matchups) can win in the playoffs.

Regardless, the fact that it's even a discussion at this point in the rebuild, while we still have some hope of receiving a top 5 pick (and virtually assured of getting a top 10 pick) from the Nets, is pretty cool.

I don't think it has to quite be a franchise level center. While we would still be considerable
dogs if we added a defensive minded center like:

Al Horford
Deandre Jordan
Mark Gasol
Andre Drummond
Rudy Gobert

Or perhaps a more versatile power forward like
Ibaka

In conjunction with that move it would be good to possibly bring in someone that can create their own offense in addition to IT like Crawford, non-knuckle head Jr Smith, Louis Wiliams etc

The only team that I still think that team would definitely lose to would be Cleveland, and even then I am not a 100% sure. Something seems off with them. It could all be solved by Kyrie Irving (and shumpert) returning, but I wonder if that is actually a team where the pieces just don't go together so great. 

The crazy part about this is that I could see someone like Gasol or Horford becoming available depending on how their respective teams are doing. I think Memphis may have to consider blowing things up this offseason in advance of Conley's free agency.

[celticsclay]

This is a big week for the Celtics as we have 3 games that could go either way.

Cleveland at home we will be a slight underdog. They are starting to get healthy and have recently gone shumpert back. A win here would start to have me really convinced we have turned the corner into an upper echelon team in the East.

At Detroit is a game that will probably be a pick-em. Detroit is nipping at our heels and have some really nice pieces in Jackson, Drummond and Morris with some promising youngsters also. Will Drummond dominate us?

Finally we close the week at home against Atlanta. Atlanta has not been the same team this season as last season. Is it all the loss of Demare Carroll? This is a game we do need to win, especially if the first two don't go our way. Thoughts?

[Ogaju]

all three games are winnable. No one is a decided favorite over the Cs this season . Very soon all the doubters are going to have to start believing. Having said that no one is perfect.

I know we lost to GSW but all things being equal we win that game. The referees gave GSW the star treatment because the NBA is a star-driven league.

Hindsight is 20/20 but  if IT had just realized that his shots were front-rimming (evidence of tired legs) maybe he does what Tommy suggested and drives to the basket or kicks it out to KO for a shot that wins the game or gives it to ET to create as only he can. For all intents that GSW game was a draw!!!

[Big333223]

The East is insane this year. We're 1 game out of being tied for 2nd place but only a half game out of being in a 3-way tie for 8th.

[celticsclay]

all three games are winnable. No one is a decided favorite over the Cs this season . Very soon all the doubters are going to have to start believing. Having said that no one is perfect.

I know we lost to GSW but all things being equal we win that game. The referees gave GSW the star treatment because the NBA is a star-driven league.

Hindsight is 20/20 but  if IT had just realized that his shots were front-rimming (evidence of tired legs) maybe he does what Tommy suggested and drives to the basket or kicks it out to KO for a shot that wins the game or gives it to ET to create as only he can. For all intents that GSW game was a draw!!!

Yea I cringed seeing how open KO was on that possession at end of first overtime (unless it was end of regulation) the ends blend together. I love our team and am really enjoying this season, but I still feel like any of our games could go either way.