Playoff matchups

[slamtheking]

Still over 20 games to go in the season but it's looking like the C's are in the playoffs. 

standings are still in flux naturally but here's the potential field:
-Cleveland
-Toronto
-Miami
-Indiana
-Chicago
-Atlanta
-Charlotte
-Detroit
-Washington
That's 10 teams (including the C's) so 2 are out but these are the ones that still have a shot of getting in.


Which team are you hoping to draw in the first round in the hopes of getting to the next round?

Which team do you dread getting (other than Cleveland and Toronto) as an opponent that presents poor match-ups for us?

Personally, I think the C's could take out anyone in the first round other than Cleveland.  That's not the same as "will" take them out.   
My preference would be to play Charlotte since I think they lack a superstar player that could carry them for a few games in a series. 
The one team I dread, besides Cleveland and Toronto is Detroit.  I think they have a center that can be dominant in the paint (FT shooting not withstanding) and they have several players that can have hot streaks that could present a real challenge on D.

Thoughts?

[Donoghus]

Would rather not have to face ATL or IND.  DET wouldn't be fun either but I don't think it'll come to that.

I'd be fine with CHA or WSH.  CHI scares me a bit because of the vet presence & Jimmy's ability to totally take over a game.

[KeepRondo]

Would rather not have to face ATL or IND.  DET wouldn't be fun either but I don't think it'll come to that.

I'd be fine with CHA or WSH.  CHI scares me a bit because of the vet presence & Jimmy's ability to totally take over a game.

You can't hide from teams in the playoffs if you want to go far.

Sooner or later you will have to play the best teams.

I say bring on who ever.

[Donoghus]

Would rather not have to face ATL or IND.  DET wouldn't be fun either but I don't think it'll come to that.

I'd be fine with CHA or WSH.  CHI scares me a bit because of the vet presence & Jimmy's ability to totally take over a game.

You can't hide from teams in the playoffs if you want to go far.

Sooner or later you will have to play the best teams.

I say bring on who ever.

No kidding.  But you can minimize the struggle.   Plus, the OP raised the question so worth playing along and answering it.

Getting a tough matchup in round 1 and getting it dragged to 7 games isn't exactly advantageous to a team's cause (let's forget the '08 Celtics here b/c this team isn't that).

[slamtheking]

Would rather not have to face ATL or IND.  DET wouldn't be fun either but I don't think it'll come to that.

I'd be fine with CHA or WSH.  CHI scares me a bit because of the vet presence & Jimmy's ability to totally take over a game.

You can't hide from teams in the playoffs if you want to go far.

Sooner or later you will have to play the best teams.

I say bring on who ever.

completely agree on that but I think this team would be well served to get a first round matchup where they have a matchup advantage.  winning in the first round could provide a solid confidence boost to take on the next opponent.  Could get an upset (or if lucky, face another team over which they also have an match up advantage)

[PhoSita]

I think Atlanta would be a fun series.  Two well coached teams that like to move the ball and space the floor.

Indiana scares me.  They've got size and rebounding inside and Paul George is a guy who can win a playoff series by himself.

Charlotte could be tough, too.  Big Al could abuse the Celts inside if he's feeling good, and the rest of their team plays good defense and spreads the floor.  They don't have anybody who seems capable of simply dominating a series, but Kemba Walker is clutch.

I hope the first round opponent isn't Miami or Chicago.  I think those would be slow, ugly series.

[KeepRondo]

Would rather not have to face ATL or IND.  DET wouldn't be fun either but I don't think it'll come to that.

I'd be fine with CHA or WSH.  CHI scares me a bit because of the vet presence & Jimmy's ability to totally take over a game.

You can't hide from teams in the playoffs if you want to go far.

Sooner or later you will have to play the best teams.

I say bring on who ever.

completely agree on that but I think this team would be well served to get a first round matchup where they have a matchup advantage.  winning in the first round could provide a solid confidence boost to take on the next opponent.  Could get an upset (or if lucky, face another team over which they also have an match up advantage)

Hard to know. A tough matchup win might give them the confidence to keep playing solid ball in the second round and onto the ECF.

Just not worried or stressed who they play.

But I get your logic.

[mgent]

Would rather not have to face ATL or IND.  DET wouldn't be fun either but I don't think it'll come to that.

I'd be fine with CHA or WSH.  CHI scares me a bit because of the vet presence & Jimmy's ability to totally take over a game.

Exactly this.

CHA and WSH would be easy wins (destroyed them all season).

CHI and DET worry me, but I think we're definitely a better team.

IND would be a close series.  ATL would be the worst, but I seriously don't think we have a first round out team.

[jambr380]

I know people are confident in getting to the 2nd round, but I am a bit worried by all of those teams. A short losing streak could lose us home court (or even drop us out of the playoffs altogether!).

Hopefully we can get back to playing consistent basketball on the homestand.

[ahonui06]

I just want Celtics to finish at the 3 seed so they wouldn't need to face Cleveland until ECF.  Other than that I don't care about the playoff matchups.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I know people are confident in getting to the 2nd round, but I am a bit worried by all of those teams. A short losing streak could lose us home court (or even drop us out of the playoffs altogether!).

Hopefully we can get back to playing consistent basketball on the homestand.

I am too. Concerned about any one not named CHA or WASH, and with WASH you have to deal with Wall going bananas every game. Beal, if healthy, can also create problems. But our frontcourt is where we struggle, and they're lacking just as much/more.

I'm not confident we would put any other team to bed in the first round. We aren't playing very good basketball right now. Hopefully the post-AS break rust wears off soon, though, Kelly is back healthy, and shore up the defense. I think finishing at #3/4 is going to be important for us to advance.

[jpotter33]

It looks like we'll play Atlanta or Miami, and of those two I definitely prefer to play Miami. I think they're a good matchup for us for several reasons: 1) we have the perimeter D to limit their best scoring options, 2) they're a little older and slower team that seems to struggle with younger, physical, and running teams, and 3) we have the stretch bigs to get Whoteside out from under the basket.

Other than that, I'd want Charlotte or Chicago. We've played both teams pretty tough all year going 4-1 I think, though the two Charlotte wins were without Big Al. Charlotte plays too fast and relies too heavily on their outside shooting, which bodes well for us with our perimeter D. As for Chicago, we're just a good matchup with them and play them really tough.

Obviously Washington is a good matchup for us after going 4-0 with them this season, though I don't think they make the playoffs.

[PhoSita]

It looks like we'll play Atlanta or Miami, and of those two I definitely prefer to play Miami. I think they're a good matchup for us for several reasons: 1) we have the perimeter D to limit their best scoring options, 2) they're a little older and slower team that seems to struggle with younger, physical, and running teams, and 3) we have the stretch bigs to get Whoteside out from under the basket.

Other than that, I'd want Charlotte or Chicago. We've played both teams pretty tough all year going 4-1 I think, though the two Charlotte wins were without Big Al. Charlotte plays too fast and relies too heavily on their outside shooting, which bodes well for us with our perimeter D. As for Chicago, we're just a good matchup with them and play them really tough.

Honestly I'd prefer Atlanta just because I think it'd be a far more entertaining series.

The Celts aren't winning anything this year anyway, so I want to see them play at least one fun, competitive series.  A first round matchup with Atlanta with a chance to play Toronto in the second round sounds good to me.

[mgent]

I know people are confident in getting to the 2nd round, but I am a bit worried by all of those teams. A short losing streak could lose us home court (or even drop us out of the playoffs altogether!).

Hopefully we can get back to playing consistent basketball on the homestand.

There's really no need to stress.

If a losing streak loses our homecourt or drops us out of the playoffs, then that's what our team accomplished, and maybe a roster shake-up addressing weaknesses could fix that (we're in a good position to do that AND add talent in the draft).

If we play consistent basketball during this homestand and win 50 games/hold the 2-3 seed, then we're probably a good team (we're better than that according to advanced metrics) who deserves to advance.  That momentum should help give us a good chance of driving past the first round.