Next 6 games

[green_bballers13]

I love the drama of the end of the year. While almost a third of the league is tanking (an absolute embarrassment for the NBA), the Eastern Conference is jockeying for position to avoid having to play Lebron in the second round. Meanwhile Philly is on an absolute tear, even though Markelle Fultz just wounded their best player. That dude has absolutely been detrimental to their team this year. We need to count our lucky stars that we have Danny at GM.

Remaining games (w my conservative predictions):

TOR:

CLE- L
BOS-W
IND-W
ORL-W
DET- W
MIA-L

Final Record: 59-23

BOS:

MIL- W
TOR- L
CHI- W
ATL- W
WAS- L
BKN- W

Final Record: 57-25

CLE:

TOR- W
WAS-L
PHI-W
NYK-W
NYK-W

Final Record: 51-31

PHI:

BKN- W
DET-W
CLE-L
DAL- W
ATL- W
MIL- L

Final Record: 50-32

Any thoughts? While the Celtics have been playing well with the injuries, I don't see them catching TOR, and I think Lebron can will CLE to stay ahead of PHI.

Unfortunately, in my eyes, we are colliding with CLE in round 2 (assuming we get through MIL, WAS, or MIA).

[ChillyWilly]

End of the season gets weird on what teams are still trying to win games. You might be dead accurate or completely off base.

No matter who we face in round 1 it's going to be a challenge without Kyrie. Playoffs require a closer and we'll need one of the young guy(s) to be it or take turns being it.

[libermaniac]

Cleveland over Toronto is certainly not a gimme.  I think 3/4 comes down to who wins the Philly / Cleveland game, but no Embiid certainly doesn't help Philly's case there.

[liam]

End of the season gets weird on what teams are still trying to win games. You might be dead accurate or completely off base.

No matter who we face in round 1 it's going to be a challenge without Kyrie. Playoffs require a closer and we'll need one of the young guy(s) to be it or take turns being it.

Can't Tatum, Brown, Horford and Morris all close games?

[nickagneta]

I love the drama of the end of the year. While almost a third of the league is tanking (an absolute embarrassment for the NBA), the Eastern Conference is jockeying for position to avoid having to play Lebron in the second round. Meanwhile Philly is on an absolute tear, even though Markelle Fultz just wounded their best player. That dude has absolutely been detrimental to their team this year. We need to count our lucky stars that we have Danny at GM.

Remaining games (w my conservative predictions):

TOR:

CLE- L
BOS-W
IND-W
ORL-W
DET- W
MIA-L

Final Record: 59-23

BOS:

MIL- W
TOR- L
CHI- W
ATL- W
WAS- L
BKN- W

Final Record: 57-25

CLE:

TOR- W
WAS-L
PHI-W
NYK-W
NYK-W

Final Record: 51-31

PHI:

BKN- W
DET-W
CLE-L
DAL- W
ATL- W
MIL- L

Final Record: 50-32

Any thoughts? While the Celtics have been playing well with the injuries, I don't see them catching TOR, and I think Lebron can will CLE to stay ahead of PHI.

Unfortunately, in my eyes, we are colliding with CLE in round 2 (assuming we get through MIL, WAS, or MIA).

Wow...Washington just lost to the tanking Bulls, have lost 5 of their last 7 including losses to NY and DET but you have them beating both Boston and Cleveland. Not sure I see that.

[green_bballers13]

I was working on the premise that desperate teams will work harder. That's why I thought WAS and MIA would the pull a rabbit out of a hat. MIA almost got it done last year.

Your point stands. WAS looks vulnerable. If they lose those two games, BOS still finishes in 2nd. I still don't think PHI leapfrogs CLE.

[nickagneta]

I was working on the premise that desperate teams will work harder. That's why I thought WAS and MIA would the pull a rabbit out of a hat. MIA almost got it done last year.

Your point stands. WAS looks vulnerable. If they lose those two games, BOS still finishes in 2nd. I still don't think PHI leapfrogs CLE.

Okay, I can understand that thinking.  But by the same token, I can see Boston as a desparate team trying to get the #1 seed and Cleveland being desparate to get the #3 seed. Better desparate teams win. Or not. We will see.

[bdm860]

If Toronto has the #1 seed locked up, then I see Boston losing to Brooklyn as Brad rolls out a starting lineup of Allen, Bird, Nader, Ojeleye, Yabusele, or something like that.  No need to play the regulars, especially with all the injuries the C's have dealt with this year.