I called this race to the 1st seed even before we had overtaken Miami It was a tall order and its a tall order now but I think we can do it. As an ageing team that needs to keep some fresh juice coming into the playoffs and the need to get the new guys like Jeff Green and Nenad Kristic acclimated and working guys like Avery Bradley into the mix with reasonable minutes - i do think they lose the odd game here and there that they not supposed to ....like the Sixers last night and against the Knicks last week. The Boozer injury is a blow for us and we still haven't had Boozer and Noah firing together ...and we may drop a game or two we're not supposed to as well as we play JoBooze big minutes together to get them ready for the playoffs The 1 seed is signficant though as a postioning statement but also for the home court advantage against the Celtcis in a possible match up . If we tie our record for 1 they have us on wood with the better direct match up record during the regular season. I am seeing us with the #1 seed though if we can maintain our defense in the run home
They lost to the Nets. 88-79 Bulls/celtics tied again. If Bulls win tomorrow, we will lead by 1/2 game
Celtics are fading fast. I think the bulls are fortunate that they don't play the Heat again because it looks like they are focusing again.
I still see the heat losing a few more games to teams they should beat and a couple they shouldnt. They have beaten the Lakers and the Spurs...so we'll see.
I watched the last six or seven minutes and the Celtics looked absolutely ordinary again. Everyone's expecting that they're playing rope-a-dope and will come out swinging the minute the playoffs hit. But Christ they look old.
I watched 30 seconds of a Bulls game, and they looked worse than ordinary. In fact, I didn't even see them make a shot for 20 of those 30 seconds. I am an expert.
I live in Boston, not that it matters because like everyone else here (I think) I have league pass and watch a good share of non-Bulls games. Whatever. Attack my point not me. Are you ready to argue that the Celtics, post Perkins trade, don't look finished?
We won't know until the playoffs hit. Do the Celtics have another playoff run in them? 1.) Perkins is gone. He was a big part of their toughness/spirit and the players were someone demoralized after losing him. That can take the fight out of an older squad. 2.) Do they have the "want-to" to turn it on? Ainge has already signaled that this core's days are numbered with the Perkins trade. Remains to be seen. They already have their ring. They were able to take it to another level last season once the playoffs started and fell short. Do they really want to do it again, for an organization that is making it harder for them with Kristic in place of Perkins? This could be just like the Wade/SHAQ Heat defending champs team the Bulls eliminated a few years back. Satisfied. Then again, they might be just as hungry as last year in the playoffs. Remains to be seen. When an old team does not want or can't get to that playoff level anymore, it goes fast. Especially if they have nothing left to prove.
Hey man, I was just joshin' you. Kendrick Perkins played in 12 games total this year. I'm ready to argue they are just fine without him. I am awaiting the return of shaq and Jermaine. Sure. If neither of them make it bavk then they will be in trouble.
Completely inexplicable play from last night's game: [video=youtube;AQC6oCi78x4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQC6oCi78x4&[/video]
If either Jermaine or shaq had been able to play last night, the Celtics win. I think they showed everyone last year they are very capable of raising it to another level to compete in the playoffs. I thought age caught up with them last year. Looks that way again, but they may have me fooled again. Rondo is not playing well. If he plays well in the playoffs the Celtics will be fine. They dont want the #1 seed as much as we do! Being a veteran team, they know they can win on the road in the playoffs. Being a young team and with our home court record, #1 seed out of the East would be huge for us.
They were a #4 seed that went to sub .500 after the all-star break last year, then they went to the finals pretty easily.
You guys should be more worried about meeting us in the playoffs than us being worried about being old.
Only a fool would write off the Celtics. FWIW I really like the Kristic/Jeff Green trade and believe it will provide the right energy coming into the playoffs. I do believe that if the Bulls meet the Celtics in the Conference Finals then the Bulls will prevail. If we go down before then and its the Heat or Magic against you ....then I think the Celtics take either of these teams down. As it shapes up right now 1st ROUND BULLS v PACERS - BULLS CELTICS v SIXERS - CELTICS HEAT v KNICKS - HEAT MAGIC v HAWKS - MAGIC 2ND ROUND BULLS v MAGIC - BULLS CELTICS v HEAT - CELTICS CONFERENCE FINALS BULLS v CELTICS - BULLS
