If the C's lose in the first round again is this season a disappointment?

[PhoSita]

Yeah, it'd be a disappointment.  They'd most likely be playing a team in the 1st round that they're probably better than.  So to lose a series to an inferior team would be a disappointment in my eyes.

What if it's a loss to the Raptors or Hawks, or the Heat with Bosh playing?  Do you think those are inferior teams?

[Donoghus]

Yeah, it'd be a disappointment.  They'd most likely be playing a team in the 1st round that they're probably better than.  So to lose a series to an inferior team would be a disappointment in my eyes.

What if it's a loss to the Raptors or Hawks, or the Heat with Bosh playing?  Do you think those are inferior teams?

Celtics are going to drop to 7th & play TOR?  I don't see that happening. 

And I do think the Celtics are better than the Heat, with or without Both, so I would be disappointed there.

[wdleehi]

Yep and last year was a complete waste because we didn't improve and shoulda tanked

Except they have gotten better.   The players are showing growth.  They are no longer a sub-500 team.  They have become a more attractive destination team.

[Who]

To convince FAs that Boston can be a contender again, I believe it is important that they win at least one round in the playoffs. If not, then the Celtics are just another good regular season team that is not built for the playoffs and is still quite far away from contending.

[Kane3387]

Depends how they lose. If it's in 4-5 games than yeah. If it's 6 than it depends who they're playing and if it's 7 than no unless it's against Deteoit, Chocago, Charlotte or Indiana.


I always thought our roster was constructed for regular season success more than playoff success where you have to beat the same team 4-7. In looking at Atlanta, Toronto, Cleveland, and Miami they all have multiple all star guys and are for the most part experienced teams. On paper I like all those teams rosters more than the Celtics when it comes to winning playoff series.

[PhoSita]

Yeah, it'd be a disappointment.  They'd most likely be playing a team in the 1st round that they're probably better than.  So to lose a series to an inferior team would be a disappointment in my eyes.

What if it's a loss to the Raptors or Hawks, or the Heat with Bosh playing?  Do you think those are inferior teams?

Celtics are going to drop to 7th & play TOR?  I don't see that happening. 

And I do think the Celtics are better than the Heat, with or without Both, so I would be disappointed there.

I agree playing the Raps in the 1st round is unlikely.

The Hawks or Heat seem like plausible opponents to me, though.  I think the Hawks are at least on a similar level as the Celts, though they have a lot more experience winning games (and series) in the post-season.  The Heat are old, but they're also experienced and with Bosh I think they'd present a much more formidable playoff foe than a regular season one.


If it's the Hornets, I could see the argument that they're an "inferior" team, except that they're very well coached, have some quality players, are disciplined defensively, and take smart shots ... so I guess I don't really agree that they're "inferior." 

Especially since there's a solid chance they'll win more games than the Celts this year (which would make it 2 out of the last 3 years they've done that).

[celticsclay]

I'm confused why people keep throwing out Toronto as a team we would play in the first round.
The pistons are 3 losses back of us right now. Yes it will probably be 2 after tonight, but then we play the lakers, bucks and pelicans without their starting 5. Meanwhile the Pistons next 3 are on the road against Chicago, Miami and Orlando with two more games against Cleveland and Miami (though cavs could rest). They very well could have to win out to pass us and even then it is possible it wouldn't be enough.

[Donoghus]

Yeah, it'd be a disappointment.  They'd most likely be playing a team in the 1st round that they're probably better than.  So to lose a series to an inferior team would be a disappointment in my eyes.

What if it's a loss to the Raptors or Hawks, or the Heat with Bosh playing?  Do you think those are inferior teams?

Celtics are going to drop to 7th & play TOR?  I don't see that happening. 

And I do think the Celtics are better than the Heat, with or without Both, so I would be disappointed there.

I agree playing the Raps in the 1st round is unlikely.

The Hawks or Heat seem like plausible opponents to me, though.  I think the Hawks are at least on a similar level as the Celts, though they have a lot more experience winning games (and series) in the post-season.  The Heat are old, but they're also experienced and with Bosh I think they'd present a much more formidable playoff foe than a regular season one.

I'd like to avoid the Hawks at all costs.  That'd be a long, drawn-out, & draining 6-7 game series, IMO.

[Timdawgg]

I have a strange feeling about tonight..Warriors seem prime for an upset tonight...a win tonight would do wonders for winning out the season. Which would help as I think the seedings are going to greatly affect this team. They really need home court.

[celticsclay]

I have a strange feeling about tonight..Warriors seem prime for an upset tonight...a win tonight would do wonders for winning out the season. Which would help as I think the seedings are going to greatly affect this team. They really need home court.

I live out here and wanted to go to the game but the cheapest seats (nosebleeds) are like 130 and i am having a hard time justifying paying that for being a mile away from the action.

[Vox_Populi]

Yeah, it'd be a disappointment.  They'd most likely be playing a team in the 1st round that they're probably better than.  So to lose a series to an inferior team would be a disappointment in my eyes.

What if it's a loss to the Raptors or Hawks, or the Heat with Bosh playing?  Do you think those are inferior teams?

Celtics are going to drop to 7th & play TOR?  I don't see that happening. 

And I do think the Celtics are better than the Heat, with or without Both, so I would be disappointed there.

I agree playing the Raps in the 1st round is unlikely.

The Hawks or Heat seem like plausible opponents to me, though.  I think the Hawks are at least on a similar level as the Celts, though they have a lot more experience winning games (and series) in the post-season.  The Heat are old, but they're also experienced and with Bosh I think they'd present a much more formidable playoff foe than a regular season one.

I'd like to avoid the Hawks at all costs.  That'd be a long, drawn-out, & draining 6-7 game series, IMO.

Agreed, completely. I'd rather play Miami healthy or Charlotte.

[manl_lui]

I would think it's a disappointment. At least to me. The expectation isn't to win a championship, we all know that, but to see gradual improvement.

Year 1 - losing record - lottery
Year 2 - barely at .500, made playoffs, swept.
Year 3 - Expected to be 10 games over .500, and I think expectations are winning at least round 1 of playoffs.

In my opinion, that is very important to me, because at least it gives another incentive for FA to consider coming here.

"hey, every year they improve, and they have a great coach, I would like to think I am the missing piece to get them over the top"

[Dino Pitino]

I have a strange feeling about tonight..Warriors seem prime for an upset tonight...a win tonight would do wonders for winning out the season. Which would help as I think the seedings are going to greatly affect this team. They really need home court.

I live out here and wanted to go to the game but the cheapest seats (nosebleeds) are like 130 and i am having a hard time justifying paying that for being a mile away from the action.

Are you nuts? It's the one Celtics game out of 82+ you'd get to see live, against maybe the best regular season team ever, where an upset would preserve the 86 Celtics' place in home record history?

[cltc5]

Yep and last year was a complete waste because we didn't improve and shoulda tanked

Except they have gotten better.   The players are showing growth.  They are no longer a sub-500 team.  They have become a more attractive destination team.

Lol I'm sorry but I've heard this same line for the last 3 years.  Players are gonna go where they want not where the team has potential.  We don't have a lebron James or was or love or melo.  We have a bunch of role players that FA are gonna look at and given the opportunity gonna want to go with or stay with a contender.  No one is volunteering to come along and help our middling group.

[celticsclay]

I have a strange feeling about tonight..Warriors seem prime for an upset tonight...a win tonight would do wonders for winning out the season. Which would help as I think the seedings are going to greatly affect this team. They really need home court.

I live out here and wanted to go to the game but the cheapest seats (nosebleeds) are like 130 and i am having a hard time justifying paying that for being a mile away from the action.

Are you nuts? It's the one Celtics game out of 82+ you'd get to see live, against maybe the best regular season team ever, where an upset would preserve the 86 Celtics' place in home record history?

These are fair points, but these seats I can probably see the game worse than I can from my home and between parking and getting some food its gonna be easily over 200. I didn't really plan on spending that for a regular season game. Every other year there games have tickets in the 40-80 dollar range, but with the record this year it has just become ridiculous.