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

[jpotter33]

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.  

I'd say that's overly pessimistic being that we're legitimately the third best team in the East right now. Granted, I could also see us catching a bad first round matchup (specifically Atlanta) and being upset in the first round, though it certainly wouldn't be a sweep.

[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.  

I'd say that's overly pessimistic being that we're legitimately the third best team in the East right now. Granted, I could also see us catching a bad first round matchup (specifically Atlanta) and being upset in the first round, though it certainly wouldn't be a sweep.

I suspect Raptors fans felt similarly about a year ago.

Yes, there are plenty of reasons to think this Celts team is stronger than that Raptors team, which was 12th out of 30 in SRS.

Still, I reserve judgment until we see what happens in the playoffs.  The only sample we've got of this group in the playoffs was a sweep last year that, to my eye, was not especially encouraging.

I agree that the Celts will almost certainly not get swept in the first round.  If they lose in the 1st round, I think it'll be a tough, close series against an experienced opponent (or maybe just somebody like Paul George goes nuts).

Nevertheless, I think the first step is to win a playoff game, then a playoff series, then we'll start thinking about matchups beyond the first round.

[JSD]

What is going on with the Hornets?

[alldaboston]

What is going on with the Hornets?

They've been incredible lately. I still would love to play them in the playoffs. Their hot stretch seems to be based on Kemba Walker's hot run. Slow him down, and they're vulnerable. Although, that kinda sounds like us haha.

[mctyson]

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.

Having home court as long as possible is most important.

[SparzWizard]

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.

Ah I remember the Celtics had to win on the road starting in the second-round back in 2010.
And nearly pulled it off, just 4 points away sigh.

[LooseCannon]

Avoiding the Cavs until the conference finals gives them two series in which to rack up some injuries, rather than just one.

[JSD]

Avoiding the Cavs until the conference finals gives them two series in which to rack up some injuries, rather than just one.

EXACTLY. Heck, we could be an LBJ tear away from a Finals appearance. Imagine?

[LHR]

I'm happy with the season no matter what at this point.  Even if this team lost in the first round, too much progress was made.

With that said, an Eastern Conference Finals run could really allow this organization to reap benefits from that.

[BornReady]

i like where we're at now
3rd seed
so if we beat 6th we'll proceed to most likely raptors
then we if we beat raps we'll be in ECF with Cavs

Hoping we dont get pacers (ellis + PG13 can have late game heroics which even with our great backcourt defense, will be tough to stop) and miami (got the vet playoff exp + good supporting cast + talent to make a series upset)

Hawks will be ok as they've seem to all taken a step back from last season , main problem is stopping horford
Hornets dont have enough talent on their bench to beat us

[Celtics4ever]

Avoid this seed, or that seed.   I recall when we just played and took the seed we got.   Doing this so we advance further seems like artificial progress to me.

[otherdave]

We are probably all assuming that the Cavs will be the #1 seed, but Toronto is only 2 losses behind them.  Just saying...

[Dino Pitino]

Toronto now only a game behind Cleveland and owns the tiebreaker. So now to escape facing Cleveland until the ECF, given how close Cleveland is to being either the 1st or 2nd seed, the Celtics will need to avoid the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th seed. Yep, that's the best way to avoid facing Cleveland: Just miss the playoffs altogether.

On the other hand, there's the idea that we should just get healthy and be fearless and try to beat whichever teams we face in whatever rounds. I like that idea better.