I'm okay with the 6th or 7th seed.

[JSD]

- 3 draft picks in the top 20.
- Avoid Cleveland until ECF
- Steady progression with room for growth next season.
- Low expectations and less pressure.

I'm also confident we can steal a game 1 or game 2 anywhere, other than Cleveland anyway, and then maintain home court.

[wdleehi]

I rather the Celtics enter the playoff on more of a winning streak.   I don't see this as a team that can just turn it on in the playoffs.  They need to be cranking on all cylinders when they enter.

[TheTruthFot18]

I rather the Celtics enter the playoff on more of a winning streak.   I don't see this as a team that can just turn it on in the playoffs.  They need to be cranking on all cylinders when they enter.

Exactly. This is what the PP-KG teams used to do so easily. With these team, I can't see the "switch" being turned on easily. 

[TheSundanceKid]

Honestly I think we all overthink our potential matchups. I'm not worried about the second round, I'm worried about the 1st. I don't mind who we end up facing, each team presents us with an interesting challenge to overcome. And if we are serious about experiencing progress then we shouldn't try to shirk Atlanta, Miami and certainly not Cleveland.

Basically I'd rather know where we stand in the 1st round win or lose against one of the established teams than win a series against a lower tier Charlotte and then get thumped by Toronto or Cleveland. We know we aren't winning it all this year so it's about testing ourselves against the best and seeing where we have improved and where we need to improve.

[PhoSita]

I think as a sixth or seventh seed the Celts would be lucky to force a Game 6. 

I'm still not terribly confident that this team is really "built" for the playoffs, and they have no experience actually winning playoff games with this group. 

Sixth or seventh seed means they're up against the Hawks or Raptors without home court advantage.  I think there's a good chance that's a gentleman's sweep.

[Evantime34]

I think the 7th seed is exceedingly unlikely.

I am much more concerned with the Celtics getting out of the first round than avoiding Cleveland. If we lose in the first round it doesn't matter if Cleveland is on our side of the bracket.

I'd much rather be in the 4/5 match up than the 6 seed because I think Atlanta would beat us in the first round. Even though we probably will lose tonight, there is still a lot of hope for this team moving up into the 4 seed and having home court in the first round.

[jbpats]

Our seeding is going to depend on the final games of the season vs. Atl, Mia and Char
We take 2-3 of those we finish at the 4.
I think the 3 seed is all but lost at this point.

[Donoghus]

I'd like home court.

Obviously, letting ATL & CLE beat the hell out of the each other in the 2nd round would be more favorable but if the Celtics have to face the Cavs in the 2nd round, so be it.

[Smitty77]

I think as a sixth or seventh seed the Celts would be lucky to force a Game 6. 

I'm still not terribly confident that this team is really "built" for the playoffs, and they have no experience actually winning playoff games with this group. 

Sixth or seventh seed means they're up against the Hawks or Raptors without home court advantage.  I think there's a good chance that's a gentleman's sweep.

I agree IF we are 7, but 6th??  If we are fortunate enough to play Charlotte, whom we match up VERY WELL with, I totally disagree.  Whether Charlotte can rise to the third over Atlanta is a whole other story.

Smitty77

[slamtheking]

I'd like home court.

Obviously, letting TOR & CLE beat the hell out of the each other in the 2nd round would be more favorable but if the Celtics have to face the Cavs in the 2nd round, so be it.

Toronto is comfortably in the #2 slot and doesn't figure to lose that spot.  they wouldn't see Cleveland until the ECF

[Donoghus]

I'd like home court.

Obviously, letting TOR & CLE beat the hell out of the each other in the 2nd round would be more favorable but if the Celtics have to face the Cavs in the 2nd round, so be it.

Toronto is comfortably in the #2 slot and doesn't figure to lose that spot.  they wouldn't see Cleveland until the ECF

Sorry.  Totally confused myself there.  I need to finish my morning coffee.  Ugh....

Meant the Hawks.

[pearljammer10]

If we want to advance I'm not ok with the 6th or 7th seed. If we are happy with the success of our season (which is completely understandable and I have been) then I'm ok with a 6th or 7th seed.

Our players have play well above their expectations all year long. The team also really feeds off the Garden crowd. We are not a very good road team and playing a team like Atlanta, Toronto, or Miami without homecourt advantage is going to be a huge challenge for us to overcome. Not saying we can't make a series out of it, but our chances to win sway greatly in our favor if we can get home court in the first round.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

The Celtics are three games up on the No. 7 Pistons with seven games to go, so they shouldn't end up that low; if they do, it'll be because they finished the season terribly, and so it won't really matter what seed they are in the playoffs.

[straightouttabahstun]

Am I the only one who isn't totally afraid of us going against Atlanta? We've beaten them before and I'm quite confident we can do it in the 'yoffs. I'm more afraid of falling to 7th and facing the Raptors. Them or Cleveland would suck. Miami or Charlotte would obviously be more ideal seeing as that would be a better matchup. Atlanta is tougher, but much more beatable than Toronto or Cleveland.

[Tr1boy]

I'm not. We need 4th