Where should we be in the playoffs?

[slamtheking]

um, would "on the outside looking in" be an actual position?

I still think it's possible (personally, I'm still leaning to probable) that the C's end up at 9th in the East.  The conference is not the same cakewalk it was last year and every other team we're fighting with has at least one stud player they can rely on down the stretch of games which is something we sorely lack.

[jpotter33]

Making the playoffs to get swept by Cleveland again would be, well, not a disaster, but pretty disappointing.

If the Celts make the playoffs, I hope they end up against the Bulls, Heat, or Raptors.

The Hawks seem vulnerable, but I think in a playoff series their experience and overall offensive talent would be too much.  The other teams I mentioned are better than the Celts, but they're vulnerable enough that I think the Celts could perhaps make it a 6 or 7 game series.  Then again, the Raptors have that formula -- big talented point guard and big talented center -- that gives the Celts fits.

I'm not worried about making the playoffs, though.

Yeah, I found this interesting and was wondering how you thought that the Raptors were a good matchup for us with your belief that bigger, stronger guards are our kryptonite.

I don't know, man. I'm not as convinced on the Hawks, and the time that we played them at full strength with Smart, our perimeter defense really contained Korver and Teague, if I remember correctly. It'll be containing Milsap that is the issue, though I think Crowder is certainly up to the task.

As for Toronto, I just see IT being absolutely abused by Lowry or Derozan. Also, I don't like JV down low, because though he's not all that dominant, we have a tendency to make mediocre bigs look outstanding, see Marcin Gortat.

[jpotter33]

um, would "on the outside looking in" be an actual position?

I still think it's possible (personally, I'm still leaning to probable) that the C's end up at 9th in the East.  The conference is not the same cakewalk it was last year and every other team we're fighting with has at least one stud player they can rely on down the stretch of games which is something we sorely lack.

Who do you think surpasses us? Unless significant moves are made, I think NY, Charlotte, and Milwaukee are all out of the running. Orlando and Washington are the only serious threats to move up right now, in my opinion. Orlando is getting ready to go through a tougher phase, which I think they'll end up fading out in. And Washington is so injury-prone and inconsistent that it's hard to really predict how they play the second half of the season.

I also think those above us, namely Indiana and Detroit, are coming back down to earth a bit and are just as likely as us to miss the playoffs.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't mind playing Cleveland in the first round. It's obvious that we're going to have to go through them one way or another, so what the heck. If we get swept, we get swept. It'll suck if that's the end outcome, but I just like seeing this team compete even if against all odds.

Well, the thing is a loss to the Cavs in the second round or Conference Finals is infinitely better, in my opinion, than a loss to the Cavs in the first round. I think it shows progress to potential free agent targets, which is really important I think.

I like that angle too, but I also like to be practical in the sense of an eighth seed having better drafting position.

So I can see the argument for both sides on this particular regard.

[Ilikesports17]

I don't mind playing Cleveland in the first round. It's obvious that we're going to have to go through them one way or another, so what the heck. If we get swept, we get swept. It'll suck if that's the end outcome, but I just like seeing this team compete even if against all odds.

Well, the thing is a loss to the Cavs in the second round or Conference Finals is infinitely better, in my opinion, than a loss to the Cavs in the first round. I think it shows progress to potential free agent targets, which is really important I think.

I like that angle too, but I also like to be practical in the sense of an eighth seed having better drafting position.

So I can see the argument for both sides on this particular regard.

As can I.

I have to side with JPotter. 8 seed probably gets you pick 16 or 17 and 5 seed probably 22.

I think that winning a playoff series is more valuable than those slots.

[Moranis]

If you make the playoffs you go for the highest seed possible and worry about the matchups later.  That said, there is no point in making the playoffs only to get hammered by the Cavs in the first round, just like last year.  That would be a wasted season.

[mctyson]

I don't mind playing Cleveland in the first round. It's obvious that we're going to have to go through them one way or another, so what the heck. If we get swept, we get swept. It'll suck if that's the end outcome, but I just like seeing this team compete even if against all odds.

100% endorse this comment.  I don't care who they play.  I just want them to play well the rest of the  season and improve.

I am holding out hope for 48 wins and a 4/5 seed, my upper limit on my expectations for them this year. 

[PhoSita]

Making the playoffs to get swept by Cleveland again would be, well, not a disaster, but pretty disappointing.

If the Celts make the playoffs, I hope they end up against the Bulls, Heat, or Raptors.

The Hawks seem vulnerable, but I think in a playoff series their experience and overall offensive talent would be too much.  The other teams I mentioned are better than the Celts, but they're vulnerable enough that I think the Celts could perhaps make it a 6 or 7 game series.  Then again, the Raptors have that formula -- big talented point guard and big talented center -- that gives the Celts fits.

I'm not worried about making the playoffs, though.

Yeah, I found this interesting and was wondering how you thought that the Raptors were a good matchup for us with your belief that bigger, stronger guards are our kryptonite.

I don't know, man. I'm not as convinced on the Hawks, and the time that we played them at full strength with Smart, our perimeter defense really contained Korver and Teague, if I remember correctly. It'll be containing Milsap that is the issue, though I think Crowder is certainly up to the task.

As for Toronto, I just see IT being absolutely abused by Lowry or Derozan. Also, I don't like JV down low, because though he's not all that dominant, we have a tendency to make mediocre bigs look outstanding, see Marcin Gortat.

I guess with the Raps it's just that they've been so much worse in the playoffs than the regular season, plus the Celts have played them close recently (despite the matchup problems caused by their starters).

[celticsclay]

um, would "on the outside looking in" be an actual position?

I still think it's possible (personally, I'm still leaning to probable) that the C's end up at 9th in the East.  The conference is not the same cakewalk it was last year and every other team we're fighting with has at least one stud player they can rely on down the stretch of games which is something we sorely lack.

I don't really get this angle. There are certain teams [Cleveland (Lebron or Irving), Chicago (Butler), Indiana (Paul George) and Toronto (Lowry, Derozen)] that this is definitely true, but most of the other teams I can't really think of who they would rely down the stretch on. If we are talking about teams we are legitmately battling who does Orlando go down the stretch? Who does Detroit go with? (maybe jackson, but that isn't any better than us) Atlanta? Millsap and Horford are not going to give you nightmares creating offense. Even star-studded Miami doesn't strike terror in me with an aging Wade and jump shooting Bosh.  Knicks have melo, but I don't really think they are making the playoffs.

[GC003332]

I would be great if the Celtics could get the Bulls or Heat in the first round, I would love seeing Bradley and Smart get big minutes defending against their back courts over a 7 game series, just got to hope that the league allows them to play it against their top dogs.Not good for ratings watching the leagues anointed ones putting up 6-23 type shooting games.Probably get some early foul trouble on the road.
Those are 2 match ups I would like to see.

[pearljammer10]

I'd want to see Atlanta the most in the first round other than that things will be tough.

I think Miami is the second best team in the East but I don't think they'll be the two seed. However, they'd be a tough out and I see them as the best chance to take out Cleveland (if anyone has any chance at all in the East). I bet Toronto gets that two seed.

I see us finishing 6-8.

[slamtheking]

um, would "on the outside looking in" be an actual position?

I still think it's possible (personally, I'm still leaning to probable) that the C's end up at 9th in the East.  The conference is not the same cakewalk it was last year and every other team we're fighting with has at least one stud player they can rely on down the stretch of games which is something we sorely lack.

Who do you think surpasses us? Unless significant moves are made, I think NY, Charlotte, and Milwaukee are all out of the running. Orlando and Washington are the only serious threats to move up right now, in my opinion. Orlando is getting ready to go through a tougher phase, which I think they'll end up fading out in. And Washington is so injury-prone and inconsistent that it's hard to really predict how they play the second half of the season.

I also think those above us, namely Indiana and Detroit, are coming back down to earth a bit and are just as likely as us to miss the playoffs.

halfway through the season and all four of those teams are within 3 games of the C's who are currently in 8th as of tonight's game.  Knicks have Melo, Wizards have Wall, Charlotte and Orlando you could argue don't have a real stud although a healthy Big Al is a big plus for Charlotte.  Orlando has a very young team with their top prospects better than our top prospects.  I don't think it's out of the question the C's could be passed by in the standings.

Indy has PG and Detroit has Drummond as players that can carry a big load for their teams and it's not like they don't have some decent support.

I'm not saying I want the C's out the playoffs -- just that I anticipate them just missing out.  if they make it, I'll be pleasantly surprised and I certainly won't be one of those people who pop here that p--- and moan about how stupid the C's were for not tanking.

[slamtheking]

um, would "on the outside looking in" be an actual position?

I still think it's possible (personally, I'm still leaning to probable) that the C's end up at 9th in the East.  The conference is not the same cakewalk it was last year and every other team we're fighting with has at least one stud player they can rely on down the stretch of games which is something we sorely lack.

I don't really get this angle. There are certain teams [Cleveland (Lebron or Irving), Chicago (Butler), Indiana (Paul George) and Toronto (Lowry, Derozen)] that this is definitely true, but most of the other teams I can't really think of who they would rely down the stretch on. If we are talking about teams we are legitmately battling who does Orlando go down the stretch? Who does Detroit go with? (maybe jackson, but that isn't any better than us) Atlanta? Millsap and Horford are not going to give you nightmares creating offense. Even star-studded Miami doesn't strike terror in me with an aging Wade and jump shooting Bosh.  Knicks have melo, but I don't really think they are making the playoffs.

as I covered in another response to someone who disagreed -- I suspect the Cs will not make the playoffs.  as of game time tonight, their 8th with 4 teams within 3 games of them. 

Knicks have Melo, Wizards have Wall, Charlotte and Orlando you could argue don't have a real stud although a healthy Big Al is a big plus for Charlotte.  Orlando has a very young team with their top prospects better than our top prospects.  I don't think it's out of the question the C's could be passed by in the standings.

Indy has PG and Detroit has Drummond as players that can carry a big load for their teams and it's not like they don't have some decent support.

I'm not saying I want the C's out the playoffs -- just that I anticipate them just missing out.  if they make it, I'll be pleasantly surprised and I certainly won't be one of those people who pop here that p--- and moan about how stupid the C's were for not tanking.