If Charlotte wins tomorrow the Celtics will play Miami

[The Oracle]

The biggest factor though is that neither Atlanta or Charlotte really have a ton of incentive to win.  Atlanta has home court secured under all scenarios and will be the 3 or 4 seed.  Charlotte can't get home court and will be the 5 or 6 seed.  Miami is the only team that truly controls it's own destiny as Boston is dependent on Atlanta winning and all the games are played at the same time.

[jpotter33]

The biggest factor though is that neither Atlanta or Charlotte really have a ton of incentive to win.  Atlanta has home court secured under all scenarios and will be the 3 or 4 seed.  Charlotte can't get home court and will be the 5 or 6 seed.  Miami is the only team that truly controls it's own destiny as Boston is dependent on Atlanta winning and all the games are played at the same time.

Atlanta has all the incentive in the world to win tonight. If they don't win, then they're automatically going to be on the same side of the bracket as Cleveland, which they're 0-3 against this year. They want the three seed more than any of the other teams.

[The Oracle]

The biggest factor though is that neither Atlanta or Charlotte really have a ton of incentive to win.  Atlanta has home court secured under all scenarios and will be the 3 or 4 seed.  Charlotte can't get home court and will be the 5 or 6 seed.  Miami is the only team that truly controls it's own destiny as Boston is dependent on Atlanta winning and all the games are played at the same time.

Atlanta has all the incentive in the world to win tonight. If they don't win, then they're automatically going to be on the same side of the bracket as Cleveland, which they're 0-3 against this year. They want the three seed more than any of the other teams.

Here is the thing though yes everyone wants the other side of the bracket away from Cleveland, but if they get the 3 seed that means Miami lost and they will be playing them in the 1st round if Charlotte also wins.  Do you really want Miami in the 1st round if you are Atlanta?  I wouldn't, they would be the last team I would want among the 3 others.

[mctyson]

but if we lose and charlotte wins then we play atlanta,

or if we lose and atlanta and charlotte loses then we play atlanta still

If we lose and Charlotte wins we play Miami. Charlotte would have a better record than us and get the 5th seed.

If we lose and Charlotte loses were the 5th seed and they're the 6th seed bc we have the H2H tiebreaker with them.

If we lose and Charlotte wins....we also get a better draft pick 

[SparzWizard]

I just want to face Miami Heat, doesn't matter where. Preferably as a #6 seed in the long-run. But I won't mind have #4 seed if Miami gets the 5th.

[KGs Knee]

The biggest factor though is that neither Atlanta or Charlotte really have a ton of incentive to win.  Atlanta has home court secured under all scenarios and will be the 3 or 4 seed.  Charlotte can't get home court and will be the 5 or 6 seed.  Miami is the only team that truly controls it's own destiny as Boston is dependent on Atlanta winning and all the games are played at the same time.

Atlanta has all the incentive in the world to win tonight. If they don't win, then they're automatically going to be on the same side of the bracket as Cleveland, which they're 0-3 against this year. They want the three seed more than any of the other teams.

Here is the thing though yes everyone wants the other side of the bracket away from Cleveland, but if they get the 3 seed that means Miami lost and they will be playing them in the 1st round if Charlotte also wins.  Do you really want Miami in the 1st round if you are Atlanta?  I wouldn't, they would be the last team I would want among the 3 others.

Yeah, I could see Atlanta rest their guys, lose the game and force a matchup with either Charlotte or Boston, while having HC.  That would be almost as ideal as getting the 3 seed and facing Charlotte, without the risk of facing Miami.

[The Oracle]

The biggest factor though is that neither Atlanta or Charlotte really have a ton of incentive to win.  Atlanta has home court secured under all scenarios and will be the 3 or 4 seed.  Charlotte can't get home court and will be the 5 or 6 seed.  Miami is the only team that truly controls it's own destiny as Boston is dependent on Atlanta winning and all the games are played at the same time.

Atlanta has all the incentive in the world to win tonight. If they don't win, then they're automatically going to be on the same side of the bracket as Cleveland, which they're 0-3 against this year. They want the three seed more than any of the other teams.

Here is the thing though yes everyone wants the other side of the bracket away from Cleveland, but if they get the 3 seed that means Miami lost and they will be playing them in the 1st round if Charlotte also wins.  Do you really want Miami in the 1st round if you are Atlanta?  I wouldn't, they would be the last team I would want among the 3 others.

Yeah, I could see Atlanta rest their guys, lose the game and force a matchup with either Charlotte or Boston, while having HC.  That would be almost as ideal as getting the 3 seed and facing Charlotte, without the risk of facing Miami.

Atlanta is 1-3 against Miami losing both games in Atlanta.  A couple of the games were easy wins.  This was all before Miami acquired Joe Johnson who has been the perfect addition for them and they are 16-7 since they picked him up.  No way do I want Miami even with home court if i'm Atlanta.

[Celtics18]

Trust me, none of the four teams will be tanking their last game.  Everyone will be playing to win.

[The Oracle]

Trust me, none of the four teams will be tanking their last game.  Everyone will be playing to win.

I fully expect all 4 teams to be busting there butts to try to win at least until half time or mid late 3rd qtr..  Some games may become irrelevant by then though and a team like Atlanta may sit guys if say Miami is up big on Boston.  Boston's game means nothing if Atlanta and Charlotte are getting beat.  Why risk injury if the game becomes meaningless or nearly so?  Not saying that it will happen but it isn't inconceivable.

[PhoSita]

Even without Bosh, Miami worries me.

Wade and Dragic have the size to bother our backcourt.  Whiteside can dominate the boards.  Deng, Green, Amare are veterans who might step things up a bit in the playoffs.  Winslow is a wild card.

Joe Johnson has made a huge difference in Miami.  He put Detroit away making shot after shot down the stretch yesterday.  We are 2-0 against Miami with no Joe Johnson.  It is a different ballgame now.

I forgot about Joe!  Yes, that scares me even more.  He knows how to get shots against dinky defenders in the halfcourt.  Hello, problem for the Celtics!

Dragic, Wade, Johnson, Deng, Whiteside --- this lineup scares me deeply.

[Lucky17]

Even without Bosh, Miami worries me.

Wade and Dragic have the size to bother our backcourt.  Whiteside can dominate the boards.  Deng, Green, Amare are veterans who might step things up a bit in the playoffs.  Winslow is a wild card.

Joe Johnson has made a huge difference in Miami.  He put Detroit away making shot after shot down the stretch yesterday.  We are 2-0 against Miami with no Joe Johnson.  It is a different ballgame now.

I forgot about Joe!  Yes, that scares me even more.  He knows how to get shots against dinky defenders in the halfcourt.  Hello, problem for the Celtics!

Dragic, Wade, Johnson, Deng, Whiteside --- this lineup scares me deeply.

Honestly, I feel Bradley/Smart and Crowder should put Wade and Johnson into the torture chamber most nights.

[PhoSita]

Even without Bosh, Miami worries me.

Wade and Dragic have the size to bother our backcourt.  Whiteside can dominate the boards.  Deng, Green, Amare are veterans who might step things up a bit in the playoffs.  Winslow is a wild card.

Joe Johnson has made a huge difference in Miami.  He put Detroit away making shot after shot down the stretch yesterday.  We are 2-0 against Miami with no Joe Johnson.  It is a different ballgame now.

I forgot about Joe!  Yes, that scares me even more.  He knows how to get shots against dinky defenders in the halfcourt.  Hello, problem for the Celtics!

Dragic, Wade, Johnson, Deng, Whiteside --- this lineup scares me deeply.

Honestly, I feel Bradley/Smart and Crowder should put Wade and Johnson into the torture chamber most nights.

Joe Johnson has a pretty good track record beating up on the Celtics, though.  Wade's had some pretty good nights as well.

Guys with the size and strength to do a quick backdown have an advantage against smaller guards who like to swarm the ball.  They're not going to be flummoxed the way some ballhandlers are.

Once they get inside, Dragic and Wade are going to score against the Celts' interior defense (or lackthereof).

[The Oracle]

Even without Bosh, Miami worries me.

Wade and Dragic have the size to bother our backcourt.  Whiteside can dominate the boards.  Deng, Green, Amare are veterans who might step things up a bit in the playoffs.  Winslow is a wild card.

Joe Johnson has made a huge difference in Miami.  He put Detroit away making shot after shot down the stretch yesterday.  We are 2-0 against Miami with no Joe Johnson.  It is a different ballgame now.

I forgot about Joe!  Yes, that scares me even more.  He knows how to get shots against dinky defenders in the halfcourt.  Hello, problem for the Celtics!

Dragic, Wade, Johnson, Deng, Whiteside --- this lineup scares me deeply.

Honestly, I feel Bradley/Smart and Crowder should put Wade and Johnson into the torture chamber most nights.

Joe Johnson has a pretty good track record beating up on the Celtics, though.  Wade's had some pretty good nights as well.

Guys with the size and strength to do a quick backdown have an advantage against smaller guards who like to swarm the ball.  They're not going to be flummoxed the way some ballhandlers are.

Once they get inside, Dragic and Wade are going to score against the Celts' interior defense (or lackthereof).

Exactly!  I don't know why some people want Miami in the 1st round.  Gimme Charlotte or Atlanta before them.  To many solid vets and would be a brutal series.  Joe Johnson was a machine last night down the stretch against Detroit.  Made buckets after buckets.

[alldaboston]

Even without Bosh, Miami worries me.

Wade and Dragic have the size to bother our backcourt.  Whiteside can dominate the boards.  Deng, Green, Amare are veterans who might step things up a bit in the playoffs.  Winslow is a wild card.

Joe Johnson has made a huge difference in Miami.  He put Detroit away making shot after shot down the stretch yesterday.  We are 2-0 against Miami with no Joe Johnson.  It is a different ballgame now.

I forgot about Joe!  Yes, that scares me even more.  He knows how to get shots against dinky defenders in the halfcourt.  Hello, problem for the Celtics!

Dragic, Wade, Johnson, Deng, Whiteside --- this lineup scares me deeply.

Honestly, I feel Bradley/Smart and Crowder should put Wade and Johnson into the torture chamber most nights.

Joe Johnson has a pretty good track record beating up on the Celtics, though.  Wade's had some pretty good nights as well.

Guys with the size and strength to do a quick backdown have an advantage against smaller guards who like to swarm the ball.  They're not going to be flummoxed the way some ballhandlers are.

Once they get inside, Dragic and Wade are going to score against the Celts' interior defense (or lackthereof).

Exactly!  I don't know why some people want Miami in the 1st round.  Gimme Charlotte or Atlanta before them.  To many solid vets and would be a brutal series.  Joe Johnson was a machine last night down the stretch against Detroit.  Made buckets after buckets.

Have you not seen what Atlanta has done to us this year? And charlotte has been exceptionally amazing since the break

[jpotter33]

The Hawks are playing their normal guys. Looks like they're going for the third seed.