Celtics Playoff Seeding Thread

[jpotter33]

Hornets are up 12 at the half on the Wizards in Washington.  A win would move them within a half game of Miami for 8th.  They're 7th in the NBA in net rating since the All-Star break.

Also, the Wizards are solidifying 4th, as I've said that they would for over a month.

I think I'm pulling for a Charlotte loss tonight, since we have a game against them later this week. If they lose tonight AND against Miami tomorrow, then they're pretty much out of it, hopefully meaning they'd rest some guys against us Saturday.

[jpotter33]

Strangely, James back in with a 22 point lead over the Magic. He's already got 34 minutes tonight, so you have to think that means he's already decided to rest at least Lebron tomorrow.

Rationale: let them play together and get some chemistry back tonight, get the W to ensure they stay in the 2nd seed over Toronto, and rest their guys tomorrow night, while also not giving Boston (specifically Stevens) another look at their sets this late in the season before the playoffs.

[dwlefty13]

The Bulls have to be the weirdest team in the league...down 19 to the Knicks?

[Donoghus]

The Bulls have to be the weirdest team in the league...down 19 to the Knicks?

Real weird. 

[jpotter33]

So, this now brings up an interesting dilemma with the Wizards winning and the Raptors losing.

Both teams will be at 47-31 after tonight, though the Raptors still have the tiebreaker.

Toronto's remaining schedule is: @ DET (B2B), vs. MIA, @ NYK, @ CLE

Washington's remaining schedule:@ NYK, vs MIA, @ DET, @ MIA

Now, since Toronto owns the tiebreaker, Washington will have to outright have the better record in this last four games to move into third. Those are pretty much identical schedules, but it'll ultimately depend upon who rests guys (New York, Cleveland, and even Detroit if they're out of the playoff race by the time Washington plays them) and who is still in the playoff race.

Toronto more than likely still stays in third thanks to the tiebreaker, but it's not the certainty it was looking like coming into tonight.

[MattyIce]

So, this now brings up an interesting dilemma with the Wizards winning and the Raptors losing.

Both teams will be at 47-31 after tonight, though the Raptors still have the tiebreaker.

Toronto's remaining schedule is: @ DET (B2B), vs. MIA, @ NYK, @ CLE

Washington's remaining schedule:@ NYK, vs MIA, @ DET, @ MIA

Now, since Toronto owns the tiebreaker, Washington will have to outright have the better record in this last four games to move into third. Those are pretty much identical schedules, but it'll ultimately depend upon who rests guys (New York, Cleveland, and even Detroit if they're out of the playoff race by the time Washington plays them) and who is still in the playoff race.

Toronto more than likely still stays in third thanks to the tiebreaker, but it's not the certainty it was looking like coming into tonight.

it'll be very interesting the final night, toronto may rest the game if it drops them to 4th to avoid cleveland, although giving cleveland that win may push cleveland to 1st. 

[dwlefty13]

How did the Wizards jump ahead of the Raptors in the playoff seeding? Raptors won the season series and they share the same record, shouldn't the Raps own the tiebreaker?

[hpantazo]

So, this now brings up an interesting dilemma with the Wizards winning and the Raptors losing.

Both teams will be at 47-31 after tonight, though the Raptors still have the tiebreaker.

Toronto's remaining schedule is: @ DET (B2B), vs. MIA, @ NYK, @ CLE

Washington's remaining schedule:@ NYK, vs MIA, @ DET, @ MIA

Now, since Toronto owns the tiebreaker, Washington will have to outright have the better record in this last four games to move into third. Those are pretty much identical schedules, but it'll ultimately depend upon who rests guys (New York, Cleveland, and even Detroit if they're out of the playoff race by the time Washington plays them) and who is still in the playoff race.

Toronto more than likely still stays in third thanks to the tiebreaker, but it's not the certainty it was looking like coming into tonight.

That is why the NBA should ban 'resting' players during the last 4 weeks of the season. It causes way too much influence on playoff seeding, inadvertent or otherwise. You want to rest players? Rest around the all-star break, give a player or two an extra week off with an 'injury', dont rest them down the stretch and screw up the playoff spots of other teams.

[CelticSooner]

I want the one seed. I think that's the most important thing for this team. Fully prepared to see this team go to 7 in the first round anyways. Can they win a road playoff game?

[jpotter33]

So apparently Lowry is playing tonight, and Wade plans to return Saturday. Avoiding the two seed is now more important than ever.

HUGE game tonight! Let's go C's (and Raps and Miami - or Charlotte depending upon your preferences)!

[chilidawg]

So apparently Lowry is playing tonight, and Wade plans to return Saturday. Avoiding the two seed is now more important than ever.

HUGE game tonight! Let's go C's (and Raps and Miami - or Charlotte depending upon your preferences)!

Right now 538 projects Washington ahead of Toronto by 1 game, so 1 seed gets us Toronto.  Probably to close to really worry about.  That said, let's beat the MF Cav's anyway.

I'm not convinced Wade makes Chicago better, but Lowry certainly does for Toronto.

[CelticSooner]

So apparently Lowry is playing tonight, and Wade plans to return Saturday. Avoiding the two seed is now more important than ever.

HUGE game tonight! Let's go C's (and Raps and Miami - or Charlotte depending upon your preferences)!

Right now 538 projects Washington ahead of Toronto by 1 game, so 1 seed gets us Toronto.  Probably to close to really worry about.  That said, let's beat the MF Cav's anyway.

I'm not convinced Wade makes Chicago better, but Lowry certainly does for Toronto.

538 changes their projections every day whether they are right or wrong. Pretty sure they had the C's at around 45 wins before the season.

[saltlover]

So apparently Lowry is playing tonight, and Wade plans to return Saturday. Avoiding the two seed is now more important than ever.

HUGE game tonight! Let's go C's (and Raps and Miami - or Charlotte depending upon your preferences)!

Right now 538 projects Washington ahead of Toronto by 1 game, so 1 seed gets us Toronto.  Probably to close to really worry about.  That said, let's beat the MF Cav's anyway.

I'm not convinced Wade makes Chicago better, but Lowry certainly does for Toronto.

538 changes their projections every day whether they are right or wrong. Pretty sure they had the C's at around 45 wins before the season.

Right, because their computer model takes in new data every day, and so projections change with it.  This isn't really controversial.

Also, it projected 47 wins, and a 10% chance at the top seed.

[jpotter33]

Geeze, Toronto getting trashed in Detroit right now. We might have to deal with them (or the Hawks or Bucks) in the second round if we secure the first seed in the East.

[saltlover]

Geeze, Toronto getting trashed in Detroit right now. We might have to deal with them (or the Hawks or Bucks) in the second round if we secure the first seed in the East.

I've seen enough of Detroit to expect them to blow it in the second half.