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

[celticsclay]

We are now tied for 8th. Tonight is a must win.

[celticsclay]

With the pistons loss this morning we are now in a 3 way tie for 6th place. If we win tonight we will temporarily be all alone in 6th. The pacers have looked a lot more vulnerable and the magic just haven't looked like a good team lately (including getting blown out today). We need to take advantage of this stretch and develop a cushion for ourselves in a higher seed.

[celticsclay]

People may start getting a little more into this thread. We are currently alone in 5th place. If we stayed in this area we would be looking at potential matchups with teams like the bulls, hawks, pacers and heat (if they can get healthy). Toronto and Cleveland are starting to separate as clear number 1 and 2.

[greece66]

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.

I know, I know. Larbrd even wants RR back now.

TP to both.

[celticsclay]

Little surprised this thread isn't gaining any more steam. We are now more than halfway through the season and are getting close to contending for homecourt in first round.

Our next stretch really gives the Celtics a chance to build some steam.
Home game against a Denver team that has struggled
Home and away versus Orlando
Game against the Knicks

i would be very pleased with 3-1.

The bulls are ahead of us in 4th, but they are about to start a 7 game road trip against some middling competition.

The heat are tied with us and are starting to get healthy again, which scares me. With the kinds of injury Deng had (blurred vision) and Whiteside (hip, non-contact), I thought they could miss serious time.

[esel1000]

Little surprised this thread isn't gaining any more steam. We are now more than halfway through the season and are getting close to contending for homecourt in first round.

Our next stretch really gives the Celtics a chance to build some steam.
Home game against a Denver team that has struggled
Home and away versus Orlando
Game against the Knicks

i would be very pleased with 3-1.

The bulls are ahead of us in 4th, but they are about to start a 7 game road trip against some middling competition.

The heat are tied with us and are starting to get healthy again, which scares me. With the kinds of injury Deng had (blurred vision) and Whiteside (hip, non-contact), I thought they could miss serious time.

It's hard to predict with this team, this is how I felt when we lost to the Lakers and began the last skid... playing better now so hopefully we capitalize this time.

[celticsclay]

I mean I definitely understand the trepidation of allowing oneself to get too excited about the playoffs with this squad. There have been a few times I thought they had turned the corner only to see a series of really frustrating losses (like the lakers one you mention). That being said I have been even more surprised of the inconsistencies of teams like the Pacers and Bulls given the number of veterans on their teams and the presence of stars. I  will also admit that IT has played like more of a star than I ever thought he could.

[Celtics18]

Let's say the team goes on another run in February and March and finishes seeded 5-7.

Do they have a plausible shot of winning a playoff series?  Or how about winning a playoff game, period?

Of course this team has a plausible shot of winning a playoff series.  They even have a relatively plausible shot of getting home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs.

The offense has been much more efficient lately.  Thomas is a star, Olynyk is looking more and more like a top level role player, and overall the team plays smart offensively.

Defensively, we know they'll be good over the course of a seven game series.  The tenacity of our defensive stars-Crowder, Smart, and Bradley--will ensure that.

I'm looking forward to this year's playoff.  I think the Celtics will be in them, and I think they'll fare considerably better than last year's team (step one: avoid the Cavs in the first round).

[Adelaide Celt]

Outside of Cleveland I think Boston has a good shot at beating any of the other teams in the Eastern Conference playoffs. None of them look all that scary.

[chambers]

Brad finally grew some balls and yanked the leash on David Lee, and this rotation is now pretty set for the rest of the season.
Given our lack of 'superstars', we are still going to lose the occasional unexpected binkie, but we'll also get some really solid wins.

The exciting thing about this team is that they can match up with pretty much anyone in the East other than the Cavs. It all depends on how well Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk are playing by the first round of the playoffs. They are two hugely crucial pointers to this team's success.

[SHAQATTACK]

Outside of Cleveland I think Boston has a good shot at beating any of the other teams in the Eastern Conference playoffs. None of them look all that scary.

We also saw last year how sorry Cleveland is if LBJ and Irving isn't playing.

Cleveland is just a LBJ bad back injury from falling back the ladder and beatable anytime.

[Redz]

Two things coinciding with recent hot streak:

1) Pretty much a fully healthy team
2) David Lee out of rotation

Also, isaiah has been consistently awesome.

[Yenohb]

Brad finally grew some balls and yanked the leash on David Lee, and this rotation is now pretty set for the rest of the season.
Given our lack of 'superstars', we are still going to lose the occasional unexpected binkie, but we'll also get some really solid wins.

The exciting thing about this team is that they can match up with pretty much anyone in the East other than the Cavs. It all depends on how well Marcus Smart and Kelly Olynyk are playing by the first round of the playoffs. They are two hugely crucial pointers to this team's success.

We need to absolutely avoid the 8th spot. At a lesser extent we need also to avoid the 4th and 5th spot to avoid Cleveland in the 2nd round if we win the 1st round. Below are the ideal scenarios for us to have a greater chance to reach the finals (one can dream, right?)

1   Cleveland
8   Miami\Detroit\Indiana

2   Toronto\Atlanta\Chicago
7   Boston;Miami\Detroit\Indiana if Boston gets 6th spot

3   Toronto\Atlanta\Chicago
6   Boston;Miami\Detroit\Indiana if Boston gets 7th spot

4   Toronto\Atlanta\Chicago
5   Miami\Detroit\Indiana

[The_Truth]

Also, isaiah has been consistently awesome.

THIS. Still remember the "put Isaiah back in the bench" threads.... I'm so happy for the little guy.

[Celtics18]

Also, isaiah has been consistently awesome.

THIS. Still remember the "put Isaiah back in the bench" threads.... I'm so happy for the little guy.

He's played like a star all season long.  Man, I hope we hear tomorrow night that his play has been rewarded with being honored as an all star.

Of course there are always going to be fans that are more interested in pointing out his flaws than celebrating his strengths. 

That's just how it is, much like with our previous all star point guard.