What If the 1st Round is A Quick Out?

[Tr1boy]

Can't be greedy. Baby steps. We need to win one on the road and one at home min

If we get shut out , changes are to come for sure

Nobody should be safe

[greece66]

I'll be looking more closely at the quality of play than the outcome of the series.

Losing in 4 or 5 games won't be good, but if the team is in every game, that's a little bit better a story.

I suspect most will view Boston as the underdog in the series. If they don't win, I want to see a highly competitive series.

actually, speaking online with fans of other teams, most see us as the favourite. i guess the win in the oracle made a big impact; but to keep this honest, we are clearly the underdog here. It's not just that Atlanta has the better roster, it is that is one of those teams against which we don't perform well.

[PhoSita]

People always underrate Atlanta.

I think in general people have been down on Atlanta this year because of how they fizzled out last season in the ECF, and never really looked all that convincing in the playoffs at any point.

The Hawks are a top defensive team that shoots well and has two top 30 players in the frontcourt.  They're also very well coached.

Against some teams, the Hawks' reliance on ball movement and balanced offense could be a disadvantage in a tough playoff series.  But the Celtics are the same way.  The Celts are in some respects a less talent-laden version of the Hawks.

So yeah, I can see an argument for this being a tough, close series, but not for the Celts being favored.

[passesofftodj]

I'll be looking more closely at the quality of play than the outcome of the series.

Losing in 4 or 5 games won't be good, but if the team is in every game, that's a little bit better a story.

I suspect most will view Boston as the underdog in the series. If they don't win, I want to see a highly competitive series.

actually, speaking online with fans of other teams, most see us as the favourite. i guess the win in the oracle made a big impact; but to keep this honest, we are clearly the underdog here. It's not just that Atlanta has the better roster, it is that is one of those teams against which we don't perform well.

Agreed, and the Celtics are clear underdogs.  To me Atlanta is like a slightly better, more experienced, more offense oriented version of the Celtics.  Two good coaches, IT and Teague do their thing, deep benches.  The Celts are better defending the perimeter but the Hawks are far better on the boards, have a beast in Millsap, and have real shooters.  I would be surprised if the Celts won this series.  Worst possible outcome of the 3-6 seeds.

[greece66]

I'll be looking more closely at the quality of play than the outcome of the series.

Losing in 4 or 5 games won't be good, but if the team is in every game, that's a little bit better a story.

I suspect most will view Boston as the underdog in the series. If they don't win, I want to see a highly competitive series.

actually, speaking online with fans of other teams, most see us as the favourite. i guess the win in the oracle made a big impact; but to keep this honest, we are clearly the underdog here. It's not just that Atlanta has the better roster, it is that is one of those teams against which we don't perform well.

Agreed, and the Celtics are clear underdogs.  To me Atlanta is like a slightly better, more experienced, more offense oriented version of the Celtics.  Two good coaches, IT and Teague do their thing, deep benches.  The Celts are better defending the perimeter but the Hawks are far better on the boards, have a beast in Millsap, and have real shooters.  I would be surprised if the Celts won this series.  Worst possible outcome of the 3-6 seeds.

^this
you sum up the differences pretty well.

my key hope is that CBS will find a way to take the opponent by surprise at key moments- he did this a lot with Butler. He is a master of difficult playoff games he just had very few opportunities to show off this talent with the C's because... well last year in the playoffs we were hopeless.
But sure, the Hawks have the upper hand.

[LarBrd33]

If 1st round is a quick out, we're still set up for potentially the greatest summer in several years...   So it's fine.   This season was already a wild success.  Playoffs are just the appetizer to what's to come.

[mctyson]

If you asked yourself 2 years ago that, in 2016, the Celtics would have:

1) tied for the 3rd best record in the Eastern Conference
2) have the 3rd best chance at getting the #1 pick in the NBA draft
3) have 2 additional 1st round picks in the same draft, with 8 overall
4) have enough cap space for 2 max contracts
5) are likely to have high lottery picks in the next 3 drafts, from other teams

You would say:  anything else is GRAVY!!

[chilidawg]

Best thing is that this is a great opportunity for players to step up and show they are playoffs caliber.  Excellent way forAinge and Stevens to evaluate talent.  Be interesting to see who really stands out.  My guess is that Turner, Olynyk and Bradley look good, an Thomas and sullinger disappoint.

[Greyman]

If 1st round is a quick out, we're still set up for potentially the greatest summer in several years...   So it's fine.   This season was already a wild success.  Playoffs are just the appetizer to what's to come.

I'm going to go against the grain here and say how unhappy I will be if the Celtics have a quick exit from the playoffs. The distraction of what is going to happen in the summer isn't that overwhelming that I can see a quick exit as a blessing or fine.

It is (due to events in the upcoming summer) going to be the swan song for this group. Over the last two seasons they have earned more than treating their playoffs appearance as the distraction. Last season the performance against the Cavs was to be expected. After all, we were only in the playoffs because the East was weak. This season they have proved themselves against top opposition (lets try to forget the Nets games) and made the league take notice of the Celtics.

I know Celtic culture says it is all about winning and winning means Championships. This group may not bring a Championship (okay, will not) but I want to remember them as winners, not overachievers who were brought to reality in the playoffs by the Hawks. I really want to go on the ride that takes them into the second round, even a close (4-3) loss will be a pain.

[LarBrd33]

If 1st round is a quick out, we're still set up for potentially the greatest summer in several years...   So it's fine.   This season was already a wild success.  Playoffs are just the appetizer to what's to come.

I'm going to go against the grain here and say how unhappy I will be if the Celtics have a quick exit from the playoffs. The distraction of what is going to happen in the summer isn't that overwhelming that I can see a quick exit as a blessing or fine.

It is (due to events in the upcoming summer) going to be the swan song for this group. Over the last two seasons they have earned more than treating their playoffs appearance as the distraction. Last season the performance against the Cavs was to be expected. After all, we were only in the playoffs because the East was weak. This season they have proved themselves against top opposition (lets try to forget the Nets games) and made the league take notice of the Celtics.

I know Celtic culture says it is all about winning and winning means Championships. This group may not bring a Championship (okay, will not) but I want to remember them as winners, not overachievers who were brought to reality in the playoffs by the Hawks. I really want to go on the ride that takes them into the second round, even a close (4-3) loss will be a pain.

Only issue about a quick exit from the playoffs is whether or not it will impact our recruiting efforts in free agency this Summer... but I doubt it will.   If LeBron can join a 19 win team and take them to the Finals, I'm sure Durant will be able to see the potential of joining a 48 win team with options for adding possibly two other stars.

[SHAQATTACK]

The world will end.

[inverselock]

All will be good if Danny nails the Nets pick or a trade with that pick.    Anything good with the playoffs is a bonus.

[Rosco917]

18 months ago we we're a rebuilding team, wondering how we would make our way.
We'd just lost Rondo and Green, and we were talking tanking options.

I'd say we're playing with house money. Lets have a good showing in the playoffs, steal a top notch free agent, grab a stud in the draft, or trade some draft picks for a good center, or another scoring option. 

[csfansince60s]

 I won't be surprised at all.

Arguably our two most important players, Thomas and Crowder are not physically  100%.

Crowder's high ankle sprain, and Thomas' thumb have obviously affected their performance significantly over the past several games.

 If this continues, and the thumb affects Thomas'  offense like it has been, and the ankle affects Crowder's aggressiveness  like it has been, we are screwed.

We have to be firing on all cylinders to beat this team.

[hwangjini_1]

If you asked yourself 2 years ago that, in 2016, the Celtics would have:

1) tied for the 3rd best record in the Eastern Conference
2) have the 3rd best chance at getting the #1 pick in the NBA draft
3) have 2 additional 1st round picks in the same draft, with 8 overall
4) have enough cap space for 2 max contracts
5) are likely to have high lottery picks in the next 3 drafts, from other teams

You would say:  anything else is GRAVY!!

that about says it for me. i plan to enjoy these playoff games - win or lose, though i admit winning would be a tad more enjoyable. 

i will not fret, wail, gnash my teeth, rend my clothing, or be cast into the pit of dispair and gloom. life is too short. this season has been too much fun. and the future is too bright for all that.

this is all "bonus basketball". the playoffs are here and the celtics are not only in them, they will be in the playoffs for many more years. life is sometimes good.