If Charlotte wins tomorrow the Celtics will play Miami

[The Oracle]

Boston's fate lies in Atlanta's hands as much as their own because without an Atlanta win tomorrow the Celtics can't finish higher then the 5th seed even if they win.  3 and 4 way ties kill any chance at home court for the C's.  Root for an Atlanta win tomorrow and Boston win, this gives Boston 4th seed and Miami 5th.

[albas89]

So basically we cannot face Charlotte anymore and there is a slim chance that we face Atlanta (if they lose and Miami wins). It's most definitely gonna be Boston vs Miami with the HCA at stake in tonight's game... Well, we brought this to ourselves... 

[The Oracle]

So basically we cannot face Charlotte anymore and there is a slim chance that we face Atlanta (if they lose and Miami wins). It's most definitely gonna be Boston vs Miami with the HCA at stake in tonight's game... Well, we brought this to ourselves... 

We can't face Charlotte that is correct.  It is quite possible we play Atlanta though because Miami holds the tie breaker over Atlanta.  If Boston wins and Atlanta loses we play Atlanta(4th seed) Boston 5th.  If Atlanta wins, we lose to Miami and Charlotte loses, we end up in the same scenario.

[The Oracle]

It is really a weird scenario because Miami holds the tie breaker over Atlanta but has not secured home court because Boston holds the tie breaker over them and they can fall to the 5 seed if they lose and Atlanta wins.  Atlanta however has home court secured even if they lose because they hold the tie breaker over Boston and can't finish lower then the 4 seed.

[Tr1boy]

I thought we still had a chance at 4th

[The Oracle]

I thought we still had a chance at 4th

We do still have a shot at 4th but only if Atlanta wins and we beat Miami.  This gives Atlanta the best record, Boston and Miami have the same record where we win the tie breaker.

[albas89]

So basically we cannot face Charlotte anymore and there is a slim chance that we face Atlanta (if they lose and Miami wins). It's most definitely gonna be Boston vs Miami with the HCA at stake in tonight's game... Well, we brought this to ourselves... 

We can't face Charlotte that is correct.  It is quite possible we play Atlanta though because Miami holds the tie breaker over Atlanta.  If Boston wins and Atlanta loses we play Atlanta(4th seed) Boston 5th.  If Atlanta wins, we lose to Miami and Charlotte loses, we end up in the same scenario.

TP, that is correct, even though I really doubt Charlotte loses to Orlando at home. In any case, the sad part is that we do not hold our destiny anymore, as we need Atlanta to win for us to have a shot at HCA. These final 3 games of the season turn out to be a disaster.

[The Oracle]

So basically we cannot face Charlotte anymore and there is a slim chance that we face Atlanta (if they lose and Miami wins). It's most definitely gonna be Boston vs Miami with the HCA at stake in tonight's game... Well, we brought this to ourselves... 

We can't face Charlotte that is correct.  It is quite possible we play Atlanta though because Miami holds the tie breaker over Atlanta.  If Boston wins and Atlanta loses we play Atlanta(4th seed) Boston 5th.  If Atlanta wins, we lose to Miami and Charlotte loses, we end up in the same scenario.

TP, that is correct, even though I really doubt Charlotte loses to Orlando at home. In any case, the sad part is that we do not hold our destiny anymore, as we need Atlanta to win for us to have a shot at HCA. These final 3 games of the season turn out to be a disaster.

Sorry there is one scenario where the C's play Charlotte.  If Atlanta, Boston and Charlotte all win.  This would leave a 3 way tie involving Boston, Charlotte and Miami that would be resolved by the combined records of all games played amongst the 3 teams.  Boston 5-1, Charlotte 3-4 and Miami 2-5.  This results in Atl. 3rd, Boston 4th, Charlotte 5th and Miami 6th.

[bdm860]

I know we shouldn't be looking past the 1st round, but if anybody has a chance to upset Cleveland it's Detroit.

They at least have what it takes to give them a good series, take them to 6-7.

Pistons are 2-1 this season over the Cavs.  You have the Reggie Jackson/Andre Drummond pick and roll.  Tobias Harris has held LeBron to 12 and 15 points this year (although LeBron also had 29 and 25 point in other outings vs Harris).

Don't get me wrong, Cleveland is the better team and should win, but I like the way Detroit matches up with them, and I could see them pulling off an upset (though don't think it will happen).

[TheSundanceKid]

Getting home court advantage is the best chance at getting to the second round at all.  Gotta try to win tomorrow.

Exactly! Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We need home court to advance. When we get past that does it really matter who we play? Either way it'll be great experience and a test against one of the best teams in the league

[tarheelsxxiii]

Do not want to see ATL in the first round, just as I didn't want to see my 'Heels play 'Nova early in the tourney. Very poor match-up. Believe we would fare well against MIA, though, esp with HCA.

[loco_91]

Getting home court advantage is the best chance at getting to the second round at all.  Gotta try to win tomorrow.

Agreed. It's not the time to be thinking about 2nd-round matchups; it's not as though we'd have good odds to beat Toronto anyway.

The way I think about home-court advantage is that it's worth 1/3 of a playoff game. Home team essentially starts the series up 1/3-0.

[TheTruthFot18]

Getting home court advantage is the best chance at getting to the second round at all.  Gotta try to win tomorrow.

Agreed. It's not the time to be thinking about 2nd-round matchups; it's not as though we'd have good odds to beat Toronto anyway.

The way I think about home-court advantage is that it's worth 1/3 of a playoff game. Home team essentially starts the series up 1/3-0.

Felger and MAzz made a great point about this yesterday. Getting homecourt gives us a better chance of winning the round and thus improving on last years late run. If we get 5th or 6th and lose in the first again, have we really improved?

The other point was the potential Cleveland matchup. Either way we'd see them in the playoffs so while some advocate the 6 seed to avoid them until the ECF why risk that path by ceding home court in the first round? Matching up against Cleveland in the 2nd will give us a good barometer of where this team is and how it has or hasn't improved from when we met last April.

Hawks should win since they have something to play for seeding wise AND we are playing in the garden tonight. As the Hornets game showed this doesn't guarantee victory but it does help.

Go C's!

[hwangjini_1]

Getting home court advantage is the best chance at getting to the second round at all.  Gotta try to win tomorrow.

agreed. besides, when have we ever seen CBS play to lose games? the celtics are going to try to win this game, as they should.

[pearljammer10]

C's have really put unnecessary pressure on themselves the last two games. I don't think they can win any series without HCA.

Why? We have been a pretty dependable team on the road this year. Wins at Cleveland, Oklahoma City, and Golden State just to name a few.

We have? We are under .500 playing on the road. HCA is essential for this team if they want to get to round two this year.