Stretch Run Discussion Thread
- Thread starter B.A.R.
- Start date
Million dollar question
The Jazz want to drop OUT of a matchup with Portland or they think Portland takes the 3 seed?
The longer they can avoid GSW the better. I don’t think it’ll matter really, I think they’re gonna be locked into 4/5 before the last game of the season. The point is they could give a shit about tonight’s game.
Fair enough on tonight.
number2
Pretty much a regular
Yeah.....killed my over 2 half and full game.....thought I had the win after the 3rd
Retburj13
SpongeBob Squarecapper
C's will be playin bench entire game Tuesday so says Brad. starter minutes limited if they even play at all
Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and the Celtics have talked about securing home court advantage for a little while. They did so in 2017 Red Sox fashion, with the Brooklyn Nets knocking off the Indiana Pacers. Given the mess this reality show devolved into, the finish is a bit surprising.
But home-court advantage is nothing more than a consolation prize — unless, of course, the Celtics are only looking to win the opening round of the playoffs. That changes things entirely. If that’s the case, then mission accomplished. The Victor Oladipo-less Pacers definitely won’t be a problem now.
However, if this team still has intentions of making it to the NBA Finals, they’ll have to put on their big boy pants and win a few games on the road. Not to mention, they’ll have to be nearly flawless at the Garden.
That remains the goal, right? Irving can’t be looking to knock off a fake five seed and bow out of the playoffs.
A change of heart would make some of the Celtics’ recent comments about home-court advantage less perplexing.
After Sunday’s loss to the Magic, Irving mentioned to reporters, “We’ve locked up home-court.” Yes, you have. For one round.
Since when was it ever this team's goal to win one round and that's it? Sure, things have looked bleak from the outside, but isn’t ignoring the outside speculation a point of emphasis for this group?
The Celtics should win the first round without breaking much of a sweat. The Pacers are a respectable team, but without Oladipo there’s no reason to think the Celtics can’t win this in five.
What happens after that?
They will likely face the Milwaukee Bucks, who actually have home-court advantage throughout their tour through the Eastern Conference. Outlook not so good.
Keep in mind, the concept of not having home-court advantage isn’t a Brad Stevens Era issue.
In Kevin Garnett’s time with Boston, the Celtics went 56-43 in the postseason. Winning at home was almost a given (39-12), but Garnett, Paul Pierce and the rest of the group struggled on the road like everyone else (17-31).
Why should anyone expect anything different from this team?
Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and the Celtics have talked about securing home court advantage for a little while. They did so in 2017 Red Sox fashion, with the Brooklyn Nets knocking off the Indiana Pacers. Given the mess this reality show devolved into, the finish is a bit surprising.
But home-court advantage is nothing more than a consolation prize — unless, of course, the Celtics are only looking to win the opening round of the playoffs. That changes things entirely. If that’s the case, then mission accomplished. The Victor Oladipo-less Pacers definitely won’t be a problem now.
However, if this team still has intentions of making it to the NBA Finals, they’ll have to put on their big boy pants and win a few games on the road. Not to mention, they’ll have to be nearly flawless at the Garden.
That remains the goal, right? Irving can’t be looking to knock off a fake five seed and bow out of the playoffs.
A change of heart would make some of the Celtics’ recent comments about home-court advantage less perplexing.
After Sunday’s loss to the Magic, Irving mentioned to reporters, “We’ve locked up home-court.” Yes, you have. For one round.
Since when was it ever this team's goal to win one round and that's it? Sure, things have looked bleak from the outside, but isn’t ignoring the outside speculation a point of emphasis for this group?
The Celtics should win the first round without breaking much of a sweat. The Pacers are a respectable team, but without Oladipo there’s no reason to think the Celtics can’t win this in five.
What happens after that?
They will likely face the Milwaukee Bucks, who actually have home-court advantage throughout their tour through the Eastern Conference. Outlook not so good.
Keep in mind, the concept of not having home-court advantage isn’t a Brad Stevens Era issue.
In Kevin Garnett’s time with Boston, the Celtics went 56-43 in the postseason. Winning at home was almost a given (39-12), but Garnett, Paul Pierce and the rest of the group struggled on the road like everyone else (17-31).
Why should anyone expect anything different from this team?
Noles4life
Pretty much a regular
I think they feel confident they canbeat anyone in the East... While Milwaukee has been a solid team the playoffs are a different animal and they have little experience and its not like Milwaukee is unbeatable.... lets see how there role guys handle the playoff intensity and no Brogdon will hurt
emkee
The Truth Is Out There
Please elaborate...
Retburj13
SpongeBob Squarecapper
rip does have something to play for at least for a bit tonite provided rox lose to Brodie and they win out, they get 3 and face Brodie in playoffs
9.5 is a lot but its the D league Fakers here
tuck321
Not all those who wander are lost
Look at the situation. All 3 refs are homers. Lakers are playing their last game at home. Portland had their last 2 days off 21-22. They play tomorrow at home against the Kings. If the Lakers put up any reasonable effort with a tough game the next day at home they will take a lesser win
Retburj13
SpongeBob Squarecapper
Looking forward to your full rankings.
What??
emkee
The Truth Is Out There
Unfortunate but the Blazer could lose tomorrow vs the Kings.
Gimme an OKC v Houston 1st rounder.
Not losing to Kings. It is over. Houston was seconds away from clinching the 2 seed now will have to have GSW in the 2round if they beat Utah. What a turn of events. The WC Finals will have a surprise team.
Blake obviously is toast this season.
More Ish, less Reggie.
Knicks at MSG tonight for the playoffs. New York clinched worst record so they can play as LOOSE as they want.
Seems like a dogfight to me.
tuck321
Not all those who wander are lost
Would say Nets is the most forced over on the board despite the refs
Kings and Milwaukee look good to but maybe not. Milwaukee may just snore away this game..
Portland does not have a choice Kings are coming to beat them and they have to play. spread totally nuts
Kings and Milwaukee look good to but maybe not. Milwaukee may just snore away this game..
Portland does not have a choice Kings are coming to beat them and they have to play. spread totally nuts
Retburj13
SpongeBob Squarecapper
Dwyane Wade dropped 30 in a blowout win.
Dirk dropped 30 and dunked in a blowout win.
Jamal Crawford dropped 51.
Magic publicly quit before telling his boss.
AD showed up in a “That’s all folks” shirt in his final NOP home game.
last night was a special night in the NBA.
Dirk dropped 30 and dunked in a blowout win.
Jamal Crawford dropped 51.
Magic publicly quit before telling his boss.
AD showed up in a “That’s all folks” shirt in his final NOP home game.
last night was a special night in the NBA.
tuck321
Not all those who wander are lost
Retburj13
SpongeBob Squarecapper
Here’s how the Celtics stack up against the other Eastern Conference playoff teams:
1. Milwaukee Bucks
Season series: Bucks won 2-1
The Bucks are the anti-Celtics, in the sense they seem to get along pretty well with one another. Khris Middleton said earlier in the year on Fox’s Fair Game how the Bucks have team dinners and they genuinely care about one another.
More importantly, they have Middleton and the game’s top young star, Giannis Antetokuounmpo. Combine those two with Malcolm Brogdon and Eric Bledsoe and this team is tough, even without midseason acquisition Nikola Mirotic helping spread the floor.
Boston can’t beat the Bucks without a healthy Aron Baynes to clog up the middle. Also, The Celtics needs to make Antetokuounmpo beat them. He’s good, but he’ll have a tough time shouldering the load alone, especially if the Celtics produce offensively like they normally do.
If the Celtics win the first round, this matchup will almost certainly happen — barring a 2018 UCMB over Virginia-level upset.
2. Toronto Raptors
Season series: Tie 2-2
Toronto embarrassed the Celtics when they last played in February. Unlike their matchups with the Bucks, the Celtics always appeared to have a strong chance of success against the Raptors. Looking back to their last matchup in February — which was amid one of Boston’s miserable stretches — Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward weren’t playing nearly as well offensively as they have been since.
To that point in the year, Brown was shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and 32.4 from deep. Since, he’s 50.5 and 40.5, respectively. Hayward was sporting a 43.4 field goal percentage at the time and has a 57.7 percent success rate since.
Those two would make a huge difference in this series. Toronto’s home-court advantage makes it tough, but not impossible if Brown and Hayward shoot like they have of late.
The Celtics also need a healthy Marcus Smart, perhaps in this matchup more than any other.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Season series: Celtics won 3-1
The one game the Celtics lost to this faux third seed was a result of an Aron Baynes injury and a Marcus Smart ejection. The C’s should have overcome both problems, but the point is it took extenuating circumstances for the 76ers to win. On one hand, a win like that may be all Philly needed to find their confidence against Boston going forward. On the other, all other signs show the Celtics are the Sixers’ daddy.
5. Indiana Pacers
Season series: Celtics won 3-1
Well, the Celtics have home-court advantage in this series, and we already know that’s everything. The Pacers’ problem against the Celtics is the same problem they’d have against the Sixers, Bucks and Raptors: no Victor Oladipo. Indiana has the go-go motor this Celtics team seems to lack, but history has shown us star power almost always overcomes hustles in the NBA Playoffs — which is a great message for the youth of America.
6. Brooklyn Nets
Season series: Tie 2-2
First of all, the Nets would need to beat the Sixers and most likely the Raptors in order to face the Celtics. You can double check with Merloni Investments if you want, but it seems pretty obvious that isn’t going to happen.
The only way Boston would lose this series is if they took their foot off the gas or turn back into a drama club — which is essentially what’s happened when they’ve lost to the Nets. As clichéd as it is, the Nets can’t win a series against the Celtics, the C’s can only lose it.
7. Orlando Magic
Season series: Magic won 3-0
Another matchup that is practically guaranteed to not happen.
This works out well for the Celtics because the Magic knocked them off every time this year. The second matchup between these two teams was part of the Celtics’ rough losing skid in January.
Again, star power would likely carry the C’s, but the fact they never figured out Orlando all year would make for an interesting case study. A postseason matchup between Boston and Orlando could prove whether or not the Celtics are actually capable of flipping a switch.
8. Detroit Pistons/Charlotte Hornets
Season series v. Pistons: Celtics won 3-1
Season series v. Hornets: Tie 2-2
A few things still need to happen on the final day of the regular season to settle the eighth seed. If the Pistons win their game then they’re in, and they’re playing the C.Y.O. Knicks on Wednesday, so they should make it to the postseason. (Charlotte needs Detroit to lose and have to win its own game in Orlando.)
Neither team is equipped to get past their first round matchup in Milwaukee.
If they were to play the Celtics in the second round, Boston would be better off against Detroit. Kemba Walker was too tough a guard for the C’s this year, whereas Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin weren’t enough to put the Pistons over the top their regular season meetings with the Celtics, never mind a possible postseason series.
1. Milwaukee Bucks
Season series: Bucks won 2-1
The Bucks are the anti-Celtics, in the sense they seem to get along pretty well with one another. Khris Middleton said earlier in the year on Fox’s Fair Game how the Bucks have team dinners and they genuinely care about one another.
More importantly, they have Middleton and the game’s top young star, Giannis Antetokuounmpo. Combine those two with Malcolm Brogdon and Eric Bledsoe and this team is tough, even without midseason acquisition Nikola Mirotic helping spread the floor.
Boston can’t beat the Bucks without a healthy Aron Baynes to clog up the middle. Also, The Celtics needs to make Antetokuounmpo beat them. He’s good, but he’ll have a tough time shouldering the load alone, especially if the Celtics produce offensively like they normally do.
If the Celtics win the first round, this matchup will almost certainly happen — barring a 2018 UCMB over Virginia-level upset.
2. Toronto Raptors
Season series: Tie 2-2
Toronto embarrassed the Celtics when they last played in February. Unlike their matchups with the Bucks, the Celtics always appeared to have a strong chance of success against the Raptors. Looking back to their last matchup in February — which was amid one of Boston’s miserable stretches — Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward weren’t playing nearly as well offensively as they have been since.
To that point in the year, Brown was shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and 32.4 from deep. Since, he’s 50.5 and 40.5, respectively. Hayward was sporting a 43.4 field goal percentage at the time and has a 57.7 percent success rate since.
Those two would make a huge difference in this series. Toronto’s home-court advantage makes it tough, but not impossible if Brown and Hayward shoot like they have of late.
The Celtics also need a healthy Marcus Smart, perhaps in this matchup more than any other.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Season series: Celtics won 3-1
The one game the Celtics lost to this faux third seed was a result of an Aron Baynes injury and a Marcus Smart ejection. The C’s should have overcome both problems, but the point is it took extenuating circumstances for the 76ers to win. On one hand, a win like that may be all Philly needed to find their confidence against Boston going forward. On the other, all other signs show the Celtics are the Sixers’ daddy.
5. Indiana Pacers
Season series: Celtics won 3-1
Well, the Celtics have home-court advantage in this series, and we already know that’s everything. The Pacers’ problem against the Celtics is the same problem they’d have against the Sixers, Bucks and Raptors: no Victor Oladipo. Indiana has the go-go motor this Celtics team seems to lack, but history has shown us star power almost always overcomes hustles in the NBA Playoffs — which is a great message for the youth of America.
6. Brooklyn Nets
Season series: Tie 2-2
First of all, the Nets would need to beat the Sixers and most likely the Raptors in order to face the Celtics. You can double check with Merloni Investments if you want, but it seems pretty obvious that isn’t going to happen.
The only way Boston would lose this series is if they took their foot off the gas or turn back into a drama club — which is essentially what’s happened when they’ve lost to the Nets. As clichéd as it is, the Nets can’t win a series against the Celtics, the C’s can only lose it.
7. Orlando Magic
Season series: Magic won 3-0
Another matchup that is practically guaranteed to not happen.
This works out well for the Celtics because the Magic knocked them off every time this year. The second matchup between these two teams was part of the Celtics’ rough losing skid in January.
Again, star power would likely carry the C’s, but the fact they never figured out Orlando all year would make for an interesting case study. A postseason matchup between Boston and Orlando could prove whether or not the Celtics are actually capable of flipping a switch.
8. Detroit Pistons/Charlotte Hornets
Season series v. Pistons: Celtics won 3-1
Season series v. Hornets: Tie 2-2
A few things still need to happen on the final day of the regular season to settle the eighth seed. If the Pistons win their game then they’re in, and they’re playing the C.Y.O. Knicks on Wednesday, so they should make it to the postseason. (Charlotte needs Detroit to lose and have to win its own game in Orlando.)
Neither team is equipped to get past their first round matchup in Milwaukee.
If they were to play the Celtics in the second round, Boston would be better off against Detroit. Kemba Walker was too tough a guard for the C’s this year, whereas Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin weren’t enough to put the Pistons over the top their regular season meetings with the Celtics, never mind a possible postseason series.
Noles4life
Pretty much a regular
WOW so portland basically tanking this game saying we dont care if we are a 3 seed or 4 seed..... which is odd i mean i know they lost to okc 4 times this yr but now they have to face GSW in 2nd rd rather then Den/Spurs winner.... that is very shocking unless they are saying we know we cant beat okc... or they know they arent winning anyways in 2nd rd and basically giving Den the big FU because there whole reasoning for tanking sunday was hoping houston lost last night to drop em to 4 seed and avoid them all together... port losing tonight makes hou a 3 and den has to face em in 2nd rd
What!???
This is unreal. I have a glimmer of hope now.
