Which 1st round playoff team do we want to face? (Poll)

[Phantom255x]

I'm honestly fine with any of Indiana, Miami, Philadelphia.

Both MIA & PHI have big men who tend to kill us (Whiteside, Embiid) and great talents (Simmons, Waiters, etc.), but you wonder if they have enough behind that to win a series against us. Also Sixers are still relatively inexperienced with their team in terms of playoff games.

As for Indiana, really as long as we "contain" Oladipo, we should be fine.

They won't be easy series, BUT I feel we can take any of them, and really as long as we put out that defensive effort that's gotten us this far (especially from November-January) as well as get Playoff Kyrie, we can beat any of the three in 5-6 games.

My Vote? Indiana. Oladipo could beat us in a game and put up great stats, but in a series it won't work for IND unless they play elite defense or someone else steps up big time for them.

[rondofan1255]

I voted for Miami, but I think a rematch with the Wizards would be amazing. 

[tstorey_97]

On the surface I thought Philly would be tough....they've won a couple of games this year etc.

With reflection, I don't think the 76'ers are ready for the playoffs in any way shape or form as they haven't played in a real basketball game since Woodrow Wilson was president. I prefer them over the 64 year old Wade, the streaking Pacers or the freaking Bux.

[celticsclay]

Cannot see any possibility that we'd be facing WAS or CLE in round 1. Cannot see the Pistons getting into the playoffs. They would easily be my choice as they are by far the worst road team of the poll teams.

Otherwise, MIL has the worst record vs 500+ teams among the listed teams at .394. The Freak is a freak and Brogdon's solid, but the rest of the crew doesn't faze me and the Cs play Giannis as well as anyone. They're my poll pick, but neither MIA nor IND play well against good teams either (.424 and .433) and none of the three teams have a winning road record.

The Sixers are the only team that won't be a home seed in the 1st round that I'd rather not face because they have more potential than the others.

I'd agree, Philly is the only team that worries me.

76ers have a really serious problem with turnovers. They turn it over 17.3 times a game while Boston goes 13.7. In the playoffs when the game slows down more and the defense is picked up this will probably only increase. Simmons and Embiid alone combined for over 7 a game. Stevens would be the best coach to exploit that in a series and I don't think it would be particularly close series. Now with another year of experience and them adding another player or two I would be very scared next year (although we will have improvement from Tatum, Brown and Hayward back)

[JHTruth]

What i really want is for the cavs to have to play someone that will push them in the first round!
For us only teams in east that i don't like will be wizards, who should be a better team and maybe put it together come playoffs, cavs because of lebron and one sided calls and the dark horse philly, they could continue to improve and embid is a force.
Last thought, I hope out west golden state and Houston push each other to 7 game series with multiple overtimes

DAntoni teams always fall apart during the postseason. GSW will smoke them with ease. That Bombs Away ish doesn't fly in the playoffs..

[celticsclay]

What i really want is for the cavs to have to play someone that will push them in the first round!
For us only teams in east that i don't like will be wizards, who should be a better team and maybe put it together come playoffs, cavs because of lebron and one sided calls and the dark horse philly, they could continue to improve and embid is a force.
Last thought, I hope out west golden state and Houston push each other to 7 game series with multiple overtimes

DAntoni teams always fall apart during the postseason. GSW will smoke them with ease. That Bombs Away ish doesn't fly in the playoffs..

Maybe, but with Paul, Capela, Arizina, Mbah a Moute and Tucker that team has way more plus defenders than any of his other teams...

[JHTruth]

What i really want is for the cavs to have to play someone that will push them in the first round!
For us only teams in east that i don't like will be wizards, who should be a better team and maybe put it together come playoffs, cavs because of lebron and one sided calls and the dark horse philly, they could continue to improve and embid is a force.
Last thought, I hope out west golden state and Houston push each other to 7 game series with multiple overtimes

DAntoni teams always fall apart during the postseason. GSW will smoke them with ease. That Bombs Away ish doesn't fly in the playoffs..

Maybe, but with Paul, Capela, Arizina, Mbah a Moute and Tucker that team has way more plus defenders than any of his other teams...

This is his best defensive team by far but need to see his system actually work in the postseason before I'm convinced..

[More Banners]

What i really want is for the cavs to have to play someone that will push them in the first round!
For us only teams in east that i don't like will be wizards, who should be a better team and maybe put it together come playoffs, cavs because of lebron and one sided calls and the dark horse philly, they could continue to improve and embid is a force.
Last thought, I hope out west golden state and Houston push each other to 7 game series with multiple overtimes

DAntoni teams always fall apart during the postseason. GSW will smoke them with ease. That Bombs Away ish doesn't fly in the playoffs..

Maybe, but with Paul, Capela, Arizina, Mbah a Moute and Tucker that team has way more plus defenders than any of his other teams...

This is his best defensive team by far but need to see his system actually work in the postseason before I'm convinced..

There was that one season where up until the suspensions, it was looking good for those Suns.

[vjcsmoke]

We will probably end up with the 76ers if current standings holds true to form and I'm more than ok with that.  76ers have some nice talent with Simmons and Embiid but they are not a team I feel will beat us in a best of 7 series.  They are just not winners. 

We'll find a way to double Embiid and force him to make bad passes out of the double team.  Meanwhile Simmons can't hit an outside shot to save his life.  And Fultz is even worse at shooting outside shots.  So yeah.  Clamp down on Embiid and make them beat us with outside shooting.  I don't think they can do that over 7 games.  We'll probably beat them in 6 to be quite honest.

[Moranis]

What i really want is for the cavs to have to play someone that will push them in the first round!
For us only teams in east that i don't like will be wizards, who should be a better team and maybe put it together come playoffs, cavs because of lebron and one sided calls and the dark horse philly, they could continue to improve and embid is a force.
Last thought, I hope out west golden state and Houston push each other to 7 game series with multiple overtimes

DAntoni teams always fall apart during the postseason. GSW will smoke them with ease. That Bombs Away ish doesn't fly in the playoffs..

Maybe, but with Paul, Capela, Arizina, Mbah a Moute and Tucker that team has way more plus defenders than any of his other teams...

This is his best defensive team by far but need to see his system actually work in the postseason before I'm convinced..

I think I heard that their current 13 game winning streak they are playing the slowest pace in the league.  The earlier 13 game winning streak, they were playing at like the 5th fastest pace in the league.  When Harden, Paul, and Capela all play they are 30-1 on the season.  This isn't your normal D'Antonio team.  They can win in a multitude of ways and have talent all over the place.  They are legitimately a great team.  That said, Golden State is an all time team and it will be very difficult for any team to beat them. 

[KGs Knee]

I don't care who they face.

If the Celtics cannot beat any of the possible teams they might face in any round, well then they simply weren't good enough, and therefor it doesn't matter.

You're either good enough to beat all comers, or you're not.  This idea of wanting to avoid certain teams is a loser's mentality.

[RodyTur10]

It's all very close, but a possible outcome would be that the East finishes with the following match ups:

1. Toronto Raptors - 8. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Washington Wizards - 5. Philadelphia 76ers

2. Boston Celtics - 7. Indiana Pacers
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - 6. Miami Heat

I would like to see these first round series.

[celticsclay]

It's all very close, but a possible outcome would be that the East finishes with the following match ups:

1. Toronto Raptors - 8. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Washington Wizards - 5. Philadelphia 76ers

2. Boston Celtics - 7. Indiana Pacers
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - 6. Miami Heat

I would like to see these first round series.

You really see the Bucks finishing 8th? Overall I feel like they have played better since Kidd stepped down and with Middletown, Greek and Bledsoe have some pretty top end talent. I would think they finish 5th or 6th.

[RodyTur10]

It's all very close, but a possible outcome would be that the East finishes with the following match ups:

1. Toronto Raptors - 8. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Washington Wizards - 5. Philadelphia 76ers

2. Boston Celtics - 7. Indiana Pacers
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - 6. Miami Heat

I would like to see these first round series.

You really see the Bucks finishing 8th? Overall I feel like they have played better since Kidd stepped down and with Middletown, Greek and Bledsoe have some pretty top end talent. I would think they finish 5th or 6th.

They have talent enough, but the Bucks seem to be in a slump. Antetokounmpo appears fatigued (has been playing the most minutes in the NBA). Or maybe it's just wishful thinking, I'd much rather play the Pacers and let the Raptors (again) deal with Antetokounmpo  .

[celticsclay]

It's all very close, but a possible outcome would be that the East finishes with the following match ups:

1. Toronto Raptors - 8. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Washington Wizards - 5. Philadelphia 76ers

2. Boston Celtics - 7. Indiana Pacers
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - 6. Miami Heat

I would like to see these first round series.

You really see the Bucks finishing 8th? Overall I feel like they have played better since Kidd stepped down and with Middletown, Greek and Bledsoe have some pretty top end talent. I would think they finish 5th or 6th.

They have talent enough, but the Bucks seem to be in a slump. Antetokounmpo appears fatigued (has been playing the most minutes in the NBA). Or maybe it's just wishful thinking, I'd much rather play the Pacers and let the Raptors (again) deal with Antetokounmpo  .

There is also a chance that Cleveland ends up in the 4 seed now. They are only up 1 on Cleveland and have been playing really good ball lately. I believe the Wizards have a tougher schedule but the Cavs have been very mediocre since the all-star break and their defensive issues continue.