Celtics Playoff Seeding Thread

[jpotter33]

At this point, you have to think they'll rest tomorrow.

All that, and another game in 24 hours. Lebron played 46 minutes...

Seems likely, yes. They really should just shut LeBron down. They very clearly don't need the one seed, and he needs the rest.

Especially because they've already got the 2 seed locked up, so it's not like they're fighting to not lose two rounds worth of HCA. I think we'll see both Kyrie and Lebron shut down tomorrow. I just saw where Lebron is by far the oldest in the top-10 in league minutes this year, with no other 30 year olds in the top-10. This is by far the least amount he's rested in quite a few years.

[bopna]

Atlanta is one dangerous team to play against. They have enough players to keep you guessing.

Lebron and his band will surely love to get into a series with us...they are having troubke against teams with bigs like Atlanta and Miami but would despatch a non rebounding team like the Cs easily...to beat the Cavs the Cs have to shoot 60% from the field to even have a chance.

[CelticSooner]

You guys are assuming they'll rest going so hard at the top seed at this point? LeBron decides how many minutes they want to play. I don't see them resting now.

[mef730]

I've never seen two teams fighting so hard not to be the #1 seed.

Mike

[JOMVP]

If I was Ty Lue. I shut down Lebron and Kyrie the rest of the way and give them a little mental TO before the playoffs start. Let your other players fight off Boston for the one seed because at the end of the day, they don't need it if they play Boston as seen in the game the other night.

[jpotter33]

Further support for them falling to the 2 seed - would line them up for (most likely) Indy (3-1), Toronto (3-0), and then most likely Boston (3-1), which they're 9-2 against collectively.

If they retain the one seed, then they'll most likely play either Miami (1-2) or Chicago (0-4), Washington (2-1), and then Boston (3-1), which they're 6-8 against.

So it actually probably makes the most sense for them to rest their guys and take the second seed rather than play their guys and fight for the first seed.

EDIT: and that's if Atlanta doesn't beat Washington in the first round. If they do, then that would set up the number one seeded Cavs with the Hawks (1-3), which they do not want this year. So, yeah, the two seed actually gives them a much easier road through the East than the one seed.

[Somebody]

Further support for them falling to the 2 seed - would line them up for (most likely) Indy (3-1), Toronto (3-0), and then most likely Boston (3-1), which they're 9-2 against collectively.

If they retain the one seed, then they'll most likely play either Miami (1-2) or Chicago (0-4), Washington (2-1), and then Boston (3-1), which they're 6-8 against.

So it actually probably makes the most sense for them to rest their guys and take the second seed rather than play their guys and fight for the first seed.

EDIT: and that's if Atlanta doesn't beat Washington in the first round. If they do, then that would set up the number one seeded Cavs with the Hawks (1-3), which they do not want this year. So, yeah, the two seed actually gives them a much easier road through the East than the one seed.

Nice stuff, what about us?

[mr. dee]

Toronto could actually do us a favor if they win against Cavs.

[jpotter33]

Further support for them falling to the 2 seed - would line them up for (most likely) Indy (3-1), Toronto (3-0), and then most likely Boston (3-1), which they're 9-2 against collectively.

If they retain the one seed, then they'll most likely play either Miami (1-2) or Chicago (0-4), Washington (2-1), and then Boston (3-1), which they're 6-8 against.

So it actually probably makes the most sense for them to rest their guys and take the second seed rather than play their guys and fight for the first seed.

EDIT: and that's if Atlanta doesn't beat Washington in the first round. If they do, then that would set up the number one seeded Cavs with the Hawks (1-3), which they do not want this year. So, yeah, the two seed actually gives them a much easier road through the East than the one seed.

Nice stuff, what about us?

I think we want the number one seed. Not only does it give us HCA in the ECF, should we make it that far, but I think it gives us a much better chance of reaching the ECF in the first place:

1st seed - First Round: Miami (4-0)/Chicago (2-2: though our two losses to Chicago had a lot of caveats to them that don't come into play now); Second Round: Washington (2-2)/Atlanta (1-2: though I think Washington should beat Atlanta going 3-1 against them this season); Third Round: Cleveland (1-3).

2nd seed - First Round: Indiana (3-0: though they're playing much better lately, especially George); Second Round: Toronto (1-3)/Milwaukee (1-1); Third Round: Cleveland (1-3).

[jpotter33]

Toronto could actually do us a favor if they win against Cavs.

Naw. If the Cavs play tomorrow and actually beat Miami, then expect Toronto to tank that game. If they would beat Cleveland and we'd win out, then they'd just screw themselves by facing Cleveland earlier in the 2nd round.

That being said, Casey might just go ahead and play them tough, because more than likely their road will go through Cleveland anyways. Plus, getting swept by them in the season series (Toronto is 0-3 against Cleveland this year) isn't necessarily great for their confidence going into the series. Getting a win IN Cleveland might make them more competitive by giving them confidence against the Cavs heading into the playoffs.

[mctyson]

Further support for them falling to the 2 seed - would line them up for (most likely) Indy (3-1), Toronto (3-0), and then most likely Boston (3-1), which they're 9-2 against collectively.

If they retain the one seed, then they'll most likely play either Miami (1-2) or Chicago (0-4), Washington (2-1), and then Boston (3-1), which they're 6-8 against.

So it actually probably makes the most sense for them to rest their guys and take the second seed rather than play their guys and fight for the first seed.

EDIT: and that's if Atlanta doesn't beat Washington in the first round. If they do, then that would set up the number one seeded Cavs with the Hawks (1-3), which they do not want this year. So, yeah, the two seed actually gives them a much easier road through the East than the one seed.

I cannot imagine anyone actually is doing this analysis for Cleveland.

[CelticSooner]

Yeah Cavs shouldn't fear anyone. Doesn't mean they won't get challenged. They should be resting but haven't. Do they fear Silver? lol

[hpantazo]

Yeah Cavs shouldn't fear anyone. Doesn't mean they won't get challenged. They should be resting but haven't. Do they fear Silver? lol

Looks like most, if not all of the teams stopped resting players. You have to wonder if Silver sent some confidential notice to all franchises warning them against sitting players down the stretch.

[jpotter33]

Yeah Cavs shouldn't fear anyone. Doesn't mean they won't get challenged. They should be resting but haven't. Do they fear Silver? lol

Looks like most, if not all of the teams stopped resting players. You have to wonder if Silver sent some confidential notice to all franchises warning them against sitting players down the stretch.

At least for nationally televised games, which the last three games for them have been. Their final two are not nationally televised, so there's much more leeway there.

They've been clearly playing for the number one seed the last several games, but now we'll see what they truly value with everything working in favor of them resting against Miami.

[MattyIce]

Further support for them falling to the 2 seed - would line them up for (most likely) Indy (3-1), Toronto (3-0), and then most likely Boston (3-1), which they're 9-2 against collectively.

If they retain the one seed, then they'll most likely play either Miami (1-2) or Chicago (0-4), Washington (2-1), and then Boston (3-1), which they're 6-8 against.

So it actually probably makes the most sense for them to rest their guys and take the second seed rather than play their guys and fight for the first seed.

EDIT: and that's if Atlanta doesn't beat Washington in the first round. If they do, then that would set up the number one seeded Cavs with the Hawks (1-3), which they do not want this year. So, yeah, the two seed actually gives them a much easier road through the East than the one seed.

who owns the tiebreakers between atl, indiana and milwaukee?