Minus Cavs and Raptors which team do you not want to face in the 1st round?

[Celtics18]

Like most, I would love to avoid the Hawks in the first round.  I'd much rather take our chances against the Hornets or the Heat.  Not that I think either of those teams will be a pushover.

I'll gladly take whoever we get, though, as long as we don't suffer a catastrophic melt down and dip below sixth (which I think is still a mathematical possibility).

[Celtics18]

And of course, ideally, it would be great to get third or fourth and home court advantage . . . very doable.

[Donoghus]

And of course, ideally, it would be great to get third or fourth and home court advantage . . . very doable.

Would you rather home court but play ATL or not have home court but face MIA?

[Celtics18]

And of course, ideally, it would be great to get third or fourth and home court advantage . . . very doable.

Would you rather home court but play ATL or not have home court but face MIA?

Tough one.  I think I'd rather have home court against the Hawks than be the road team against the Heat.

[SparzWizard]

I don't really get why people keep talking about the Pistons... There is a really really small chance (1%) of us playing them in the first round...

The Pistons can upset the Cavaliers or Raptors lol. But then NBA will not allow that because they need LeBron James to generate more revenue.

[PhoSita]

And of course, ideally, it would be great to get third or fourth and home court advantage . . . very doable.

Would you rather home court but play ATL or not have home court but face MIA?

Home court is definitely the most important factor, especially since the Celts are lacking playoff experience and rely heavily on the performance of role players off the bench.

[jpotter33]

The Hawks, Pistons, and Pacers would be our worst matchups in that order.

The Hornets and Heat would be our best matchups in that order.

Luckily, we're only likely to face one of our worst matchups (Atlanta) and two of our best matchups (Charlotte and Miami), who we've swept so far this year.

[Donoghus]

And of course, ideally, it would be great to get third or fourth and home court advantage . . . very doable.

Would you rather home court but play ATL or not have home court but face MIA?

Home court is definitely the most important factor, especially since the Celts are lacking playoff experience and rely heavily on the performance of role players off the bench.

I tend to disagree.  They played in the playoffs last year (albeit a 4 game sweep) but its still experience.   So I think that's over blown.   Rotation gets shortened come playoff time & let's not kid ourselves, this team still relies quite heavily on the starters.  Much more skewed there than towards the role players.

I think matchup is a much more important factor.  If you have a favorable team matchup (which I tend to view Charlotte & even Miami), then I think home court tends to be overblown.   In a series with someone like ATL, then I think its more valuable since I tend to see the teams being close to evenmatched and would expect a series like that could very well go 7 games where having HCA would come into play. 

[jpotter33]

And of course, ideally, it would be great to get third or fourth and home court advantage . . . very doable.

Would you rather home court but play ATL or not have home court but face MIA?

Tough one.  I think I'd rather have home court against the Hawks than be the road team against the Heat.

Ehh, I take the other route. We've shown that we can win on the road, even in places deemed unwinnable, see Golden State game. I'd much rather take the better matchup than have home court advantage.

Remember, we have a bunch of high character guys with chips on their shoulder. I like a hostile environment to get them going, and I don't think not being at home is as big of a factor with these guys.

[SHAQATTACK]

I d like to see us beat the dog doo out of the Hawks first.

[Celtics18]

And of course, ideally, it would be great to get third or fourth and home court advantage . . . very doable.

Would you rather home court but play ATL or not have home court but face MIA?

Tough one.  I think I'd rather have home court against the Hawks than be the road team against the Heat.

Ehh, I take the other route. We've shown that we can win on the road, even in places deemed unwinnable, see Golden State game. I'd much rather take the better matchup than have home court advantage.

Remember, we have a bunch of high character guys with chips on their shoulder. I like a hostile environment to get them going, and I don't think not being at home is as big of a factor with these guys.

Sure, we've had some nice wins on the road with the Dubs win being the biggest.  Still, you just need to look at the record to see that we've been considerably better at the Garden than away from the cozy confines.

25 and 12 at home

20 and 20 on the road

I think it matters.  I also think all the potential 4-5/3-6 match ups are close enough that they could potentially go seven.  You want to be able to play that seventh game in your own building if it comes down to it.

Home court is big.

[jpotter33]

And of course, ideally, it would be great to get third or fourth and home court advantage . . . very doable.

Would you rather home court but play ATL or not have home court but face MIA?

Tough one.  I think I'd rather have home court against the Hawks than be the road team against the Heat.

Ehh, I take the other route. We've shown that we can win on the road, even in places deemed unwinnable, see Golden State game. I'd much rather take the better matchup than have home court advantage.

Remember, we have a bunch of high character guys with chips on their shoulder. I like a hostile environment to get them going, and I don't think not being at home is as big of a factor with these guys.

Sure, we've had some nice wins on the road with the Dubs win being the biggest.  Still, you just need to look at the record to see that we've been considerably better at the Garden than away from the cozy confines.

25 and 12 at home

20 and 20 on the road

I think it matters.  I also think all the potential 4-5/3-6 match ups are close enough that they could potentially go seven.  You want to be able to play that seventh game in your own building if it comes down to it.

Home court is big.

Yeah, I just see the matchups differently. I think we matchup very, very well with both Miami and Charlotte and not so well with Atlanta.

[TheSundanceKid]

I'd face any of the rest. No point looking for an easy matchup, I'd rather know if we can compete against the legit teams

[footey]

I agree with Potter on how we match up. I don't want to face ATL.

[Forza Juventus]

I don't want to play Atlanta