After the Celts recent good form does any1 think we have a chance of making da playoffs, and a better question is should we? Should we settle for a lottery pick or make a run at the playoffs?
I just wanna see them play with pride and effort as they have been doing for the most part since the trade...we have a very small chance to make the playoffs if we can make a strong run...however i do feel we will need other teams to lose aswell... Making the playoffs would be a huge boost in moral...but i wouldnt mind a nice draft pick...
I think our man Danny will find us a decent pick no matter where we end up, and there's nothing about his history that says otherwise. I also think that the playoffs are more than we could ask for, but exactly what this group needs. Sure, we'd probably get embarrassed by Detroit in the first round, but big game experience is what this team needs, and what bigger games are there than road games in the Palace? Pride would be a great thing to watch them play with, and so far, it's been so beneficial. Even Doc looks like his morale is up, although this is a pretty clear case of winning-in-spite-of, and will probably continue you to be.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Squishface:</div><div class="quote_post">I think our man Danny will find us a decent pick no matter where we end up, and there's nothing about his history that says otherwise. I also think that the playoffs are more than we could ask for, but exactly what this group needs. Sure, we'd probably get embarrassed by Detroit in the first round, but big game experience is what this team needs, and what bigger games are there than road games in the Palace? Pride would be a great thing to watch them play with, and so far, it's been so beneficial. Even Doc looks like his morale is up, although this is a pretty clear case of winning-in-spite-of, and will probably continue you to be.</div> I agree 100%, we have a bucket-load of young talent now, lets focus on developing them, so we can be a force in the East again sooner rather than later...PP is in his prime now, its time to develop what we have, while Pierce tears it up, and we will be one scary team...making the playoffs this year would be great...It will give us big game experience, it will also be awesome to see them go on a rally in the second half of the season, especially after the first half....I hope the Celts keep playing like this, show the league/media that we're not pushovers..
imagine if the celtics snuck into the playoffs as the 8th seed and somehow found a way to beat Detroit! just imagine the scandal!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">imagine if the celtics snuck into the playoffs as the 8th seed and somehow found a way to beat Detroit! just imagine the scandal!!</div> lol haha, I wish. At the moment the Celtics are 23-33 and we need to catch up to Philly which are 28-28, so were 5 games behind. Call me crazy but I really think we can make the playoffs, were starting to play together and win games. If we keep playing like we are now we might just catch that 8th seed.
I agree with thetruth5, I think it's possible and Paul Pierce will have to take them there. Rigth now it's All on him. The way he plays will take them as far as they will go.
Pierce and the way I've done a little research, and it seems to me that it would be better for them to make the first round. The chance of a good pick is otherwise low, unless they lose all the rest of their games. Some playoff experience would indeed be good for the young guys, and I think that it would make Pierce a little happier. I also believe that he's going to keep playing out of his mind. As for the chances of the Celtics making the playoffs, it's middle of the road odds. Philly and Chicago aren't really that scary, and Milwaukee hasn't played nearly as well as they have in the past. The idea that the Celts have been winning on the road speaks very well of their chances of rapidly improving. Pierce is forcing them to play better as a team. They still have some trouble scoring with him on the bench, and the defense isn't great, but they've been getting more important stops than before. Gomes helps because he understand rotations. As for the daydream of beating the Pistons. It ain't likely, but man would it be fun to watch.
The real playoff chances The Celtics destiny is more in their own hands than people might think. The bottom four seeds in the East are packed fairly closely together. Those seeds all have tougher remaining schedules than the Celtics do, and all have played inconsistently throughout the year. Indiana is #5 with a 28-25 record Washington is #6 with a 29-26 record Milwaukee is #7 with a 29-28 record Philadelphia is # 8 with a 28-28 record The next largest threat would appear to be Chicago with a 25-31 record. The only team with an easier remaining schedule than the Celtics is Chicago. This is not to say that the Celts schedule is easy, because it's not, it's just easier than all of those teams. Many of these higher Eastern conference teams haven't played as many Western teams as the Celtics have. The Celts only have three Western games remaining: @Memphis, and two home games against the Lakers and Nuggets. It's hard to say how those games will work out. The Nuggets are trying to figure out their team with some new additions, Memphis is a deep but inconsistent team, and we know exactly what LA can and can't do: Kobe can score, no one can defend. (1-2) -There are only two games that are easy to expect a win in, both are against the Knicks. Yes, we all know that the Knicks are that bad. Are they guaranteed wins? No, but pretty close. 2-0 (3-2) -Two games against Chicago. Another inconsistent team, but probably as dangerous to the Celts as Memphis. Also, Boston seems to hate playing against Chicago. I'll be charitable and call this 1-1 because Chicago can't seem to play at home this year. (4-3) -Three games against Toronto. They're getting better, but their last four wins have all been against reeling teams. Sounds like 3-0 to me. (7-3) -One game at Orlando, who are 1-9 over their last ten and are completely switched into rebuilding mode. Celts recently lost to them, but that was pre-trade deadline. I still call this a win. 1-0 (8-3) -Then things get a lot tougher. Three games against Miami. The Heat are on a tear right now. But they aren't that great on the road, two of these games are in boston, and one is the last game of the season. My belief is that Miami will be resting by then. If the Celts win tonight, then the whole story changes. 1-2 (9-5) -Three games against Indiana. Two are in Indy. I'm not sure that the Celts can steal either of those, because Indy is going to be trying to catch a sliding Cleveland. Despite the injuries, this team is too well coached to give home games away. 1-2 (10-7) -Two games against Jersey. A home and home at the end of the season. They will not have packed it in by then. They're great at home, bad on the road. But you never know when JKidd's gonna start treating Vince like they're married. By the way, I'm not actually calling Vince a woman, women are tough. 1-1 (11-8) -Two against Washington. We can beat them at home, but they're on fire right now. 1-1 (12-9) -Against Milwaukee in Boston. It's make or break time for this Bucks team. They'll get hot soon if they're going to. A huge game. Despite all this, I think the Celts can win it. 1-0 (13-9) -Two against Philly. Home and away. Philly's bench is thinner than Manute Bol. On the other hand, Andre Iguodala is one of about three guys in the league who can guard Pierce right now, and he's still pissed about that dunk contest. 1-1 (14-10) -Two against Cleveland, who are preparing for their annual second half slide, because no one on their team can play defense but Eric Snow. Also, the fan's are booing Lebron and anyone who tries to play the two on their team gets hurt. 2-0. Yes, 2-0 (16-10) Philly, Milwaukee and Washington could all go .500 or below with their remaining games. Cleveland could as well. Granted that these assessments are extremely optimistic because they are based on the recent play of the Celtics (against poor teams), it is well within possibility that Boston make the eighth or even seventh seeds. Neither of these seedings are particularly desirable, but the experience is great for the players. Should Cleveland slide, and the rest of said teams play .500 or below basketball, the sixth seed is available. That means Jersey. I love Jersey in the playoffs. Bring it on. (Feel free to make fun of me for this, but anything's possible.)
Nice work Postpoint, sounds reasonable enough to happen. You can never underestimate the Cleveland fade.
Last night's games The Celtics lost to the Heat. So they'll obviously gain no ground. The Sixers beat Houston. A game I hadn't planned for them winning, but Iverson was too good and the calls were bad. -Jersey lost (in a game that didn't go overtime, Jefferson played 55 minutes. You figure that out.) -Indiana won -Cleveland lost (Fade, fade, fade) -Wizards lost (Eddie Jordan is very smart, but that team hasn't shown to be clutch so far.) -Bucks lost (To a Phoenix team that couldn't miss from three point land. Watching Phoenix play, it almost feels like they're cheating sometimes.) -The Bulls won the night before, and that ain't good. I think the Eastern conference playoff race is going to see some big changes before the season's out.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"(Antoine) Walker went to dinner with former running mate Paul Pierce (38 more for Boston's scoring machine) Tuesday night and offered to fly Pierce to Miami for the first round of the playoffs. Pierce countered by saying the Celtics might still make the playoffs, but it's looking unlikely. Boston is 11 games under .500 and it's pretty bad when you haven't won three straight as of March 1." Boston Globe ?Hold off on that ticket, man,? Pierce replied, still knowing that the Celtics would have to put more on the table than words last night. Boston Herald</div> http://www.insidehoops.com/nba_rumors.shtml Its good that Pierce is still confident and that he hasn't given up on this team.
Indiana Game and Playoff watch. Paul Pierce is playing maybe the best basketball in the NBA right now. Granted, that banked three pointer at Indy last night was ridiculous, but he took that game over and won it. The foul shooting was embarassing and odd, not sure why that happened. Let's hope it was an isolated incident. Has anyone noticed that Pierce is dunking a lot more now than he has for the last two seasons? I think he's in much better shape than he was before, he's also much more excited. -The Celtics got some stops last night when they needed them. Not many, but even one is an improvement with this defense. They played a modified, switching zone, in which the players actually made the correct rotations (only with the small lineup on the floor) and stayed in front of people. Doc's gone small on Indy before, but it was doubly effective because O'Neal wasn't there -They kept Jeff Foster off the offensive boards. Much harder to do than it sounds. Gomes again, with strong play by LaFrentz (11 boards and seven assists). -Delonte West was clutch, again. Strong defense in the fourth, hitting key jumpers, and moving the ball once they started to respect him. Tommy is right in that he still doesn't look like a point, but he's getting there. -Wally looked like a cripple again. I like him, but that knee's gonna crumble one of these days. Worry, worry. Him and LaFrentz can swap surgery tales (hopefully in the off-season). -Despite Orien Greene's missed free throws, he's starting to get more respect from the Refs, and his defense while playing high in that zone is very good. He can also throw down nicely. <u><font size=""4"">Eastern Conference Results</font></u> -Beating Indiana is a must for the Celts, and they did it. -The Bulls beat the Knicks, who were up big going into the fourth and promptly fell apart. They suck. -Philly beat Washington. Not good that Philly won, but good that Washington lost. I don't know if they have the heart to go that far. Iverson went nuts again. Him and Webber seem to be playing well together at just the right time. He's ridiculous. Philly has nothing and are still winning games somehow. Washington has great players, but Arenas is no point guard, I don't think Jamison's a winner. Caron Butler will decide whither Washington goes. The biggest win for the Celts was their own. Otherwise the rest of the news was only middling. It'll be a lot to ask NY to beat the Bucks tonight, and the Nets are already killing the Raps as I write this. -The Knicks did manage to beat Milwaukee...That helps. THEY LIVE!
its kinda funny 2 c everyone so optimistic cause about a month ago, everybody wanted doc rivers gone (not that has changed so much) and saying how much of a stupid trade 4 wally was. Well alot has changed in a month. Pierce is on fire, the celts are showing some depth and Delonte is probably having the best month of his career and wally is probably doing more than ricky would.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting inswinger:</div><div class="quote_post">its kinda funny 2 c everyone so optimistic cause about a month ago, everybody wanted doc rivers gone (not that has changed so much) and saying how much of a stupid trade 4 wally was. Well alot has changed in a month. Pierce is on fire, the celts are showing some depth and Delonte is probably having the best month of his career and wally is probably doing more than ricky would.</div> I still would like to see Doc gone after the season. I do think that this current team is getting better suited to his coaching abilities (they are getting better at coaching themselves.) I thought that the Ricky trade was a bad one, as well. I'm prepared to admit that it was a good trade. Wally has to be respected on the perimeter, Ricky didn't. It changes the whole game. And it's forced Delonte to be the sole point guard, as opposed to when Ricky would try and throw balls into the crowd. Delonte has been on fire. There's no doubt, and he looks more and more cold-blooded every time he plays. His assist to turnover ratio is still only 2.5 to 1. But he's improving all the time, it seems. His defense is also been better lately. I think it's been because of all the close games.
The Bucks are inviting teams to pass them up in the standings. They've lost 3 straight games, including one to the Knicks. Big game tomorrow at Boston. The Celtics can gain a full game in the playoff race with a victory and move to only 2.5 games back of the 8th spot.
Things are changing After a late game loss tonight Philly seems to be sliding, but their schedule gets easier after the next couple of games. Milwaukee's been terrible over their last ten games, but the schedule favors them, too. The Celts upcoming schedule is middle of the road. They have some tough games (Denver, Memphis, Miami) and some easy ones ( Orlando, NY and Toronto twice.) But it's hard to tell which teams are going to show up on given nights. Toronto and the Knicks have been beating people recently(including the Celts.) It still seems as if the Eastern Conference playoff seedings could change drastically. Cleveland, Philly, Milwaukee are all prone to streakiness, while Indiana is playing with very little margin for error, their bench is short right now. Chicago also seems to want to threaten, but I they don't seem balanced enough to hold together for very long. It's already been a great ride. I think that Pierce can take us past the eighth seed.
im with ya. but man, i can imagine other people looking at us like we each had 2 heads and tentacles if we told them that its been a great ride to this point. theyd say "a GREAT RIDE??? You're battling desperatley just to be the worst team in the playoffs and get squished by Detroit!" i guess if you havent been watching all along, you cant understand it
