The Celtics need to avoid the 4th, 5th and 8th seed.

[JSD]

To me, avoiding Cleveland until the ECF is the key to the season. If this team can make it to the ECF and win a couple of games, I think that would go a long way in terms of free agent recruiting.

[JSD]

Hopefully Houston can beat the Hornets and Toronto can beat the Heat tonight.

[greece66]

Not so sure that taking the 7th seed is better than taking the 4th...

And even if it is there is no way to plan outcomes so carefully

Right now, 90% we finish either 3rd or 4th.

[jambr380]

I think at this point in our development, we should be REALLY happy if we make it to the 2nd round. I know that is not where we all want to be, but it's hard to believe that we've already 'arrived.'

[PhoSita]

Ignore the legitimacy of the Raptors at your peril.

The Hawks have the second best defense in the league, also.

[Vox_Populi]

Ignore the legitimacy of the Raptors at your peril.

The Hawks have the second best defense in the league, also.

I'd still rather face them than Cleveland in the second round, without question. Which I'm assuming is his point. The Celtics have a chance against any team in the East, except Cleveland.

[Dino Pitino]

Ignore the legitimacy of the Raptors at your peril.

The Hawks have the second best defense in the league, also.

I'd still rather face them than Cleveland in the second round, without question. Which I'm assuming is his point. The Celtics have a chance against any team in the East, except Cleveland.

They have a chance against Cleveland, too. The Cavs are a dysfunctional mess. LeBron has slipped. The C's are better than they were last year.

[PhoSita]

Ignore the legitimacy of the Raptors at your peril.

The Hawks have the second best defense in the league, also.

I'd still rather face them than Cleveland in the second round, without question. Which I'm assuming is his point. The Celtics have a chance against any team in the East, except Cleveland.

I agree with this, but the original poster glosses over having to get past the Raptors in the second round to reach the ECF.

Lesser task than defeating the Cavs, but still a huge obstacle for this team.

The playoffs are a new season, a different game.  Beating opponent #1, whoever that is, will be a major accomplishment.  Let's worry about the ECF when it's May and the Celts are still in the playoffs.

[guava_wrench]

So our goal should be making it to the ECF by not playing the best team?

That is a serious case of over-thinking. Making it to the ECF isn't as big of a deal as you are making out to be. It isn't like we get a free all star added to our roster if we make it there. The team should just try to win as many games as they can.

[JSD]

Ignore the legitimacy of the Raptors at your peril.

The Hawks have the second best defense in the league, also.

I'd still rather face them than Cleveland in the second round, without question. Which I'm assuming is his point. The Celtics have a chance against any team in the East, except Cleveland.

I agree with this, but the original poster glosses over having to get past the Raptors in the second round to reach the ECF.

Lesser task than defeating the Cavs, but still a huge obstacle for this team.

The playoffs are a new season, a different game.  Beating opponent #1, whoever that is, will be a major accomplishment.  Let's worry about the ECF when it's May and the Celts are still in the playoffs.

Speaking of glossing over, I had a big IF in there.

[JSD]

I'm not suggesting the Celtics actually game plan and maneuver their rotation and wins and losses for seeding, I'm just saying this as a fan, I hope we stay at the #3 seed. I think we would have a real shot at the ECF

[alldaboston]

Atlanta and Indiana scare me the most. (Other than the usual Cleveland and Toronto). Atlanta blew us out the last time we played them, and with their elite defense if they can shut us down, we could be in serious trouble. And Indiana. Paul George. Plain and simple.

[SparzWizard]

I think the 3rd and 6th seed are the best for the Celtics.

Assuming we pass 1st-round, we won't get HCA against Toronto and they're a real good team. Since Paul Pierce is no longer in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors will finally make it past the 1st-round. Avoiding the Cavs is the most important though.

[PhoSita]

Speaking of glossing over, I had a big IF in there.

"Avoiding CLE is the key to the season" assumes that, if we can avoid Cleveland until that point, everything else is a secondary concern.

I'd say "let's see if these guys can win a single playoff game" is the key to the season, but that's just me.   

[GC003332]

Of course you want to have home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, history shows you have a far greater chance of winning through to the next round, but any seed 3 through 6 in the first round and having a reasonably healthy squad entering the playoffs should be the goal.
Lots of question marks over individual players on the Celtics and their ability to step up their level of play in the playoffs.
Hopefully collectively they can get the job done in the first round, winning one playoffs series would be huge for this team in my mind.
Anything after that would be a bonus as far as attracting possible free agents.