Final 16 Games: Great Chance To Finish Strong (Unlike Last Season)

[Phantom255x]

Of course, it will depend on how hard the C's will play for it, because efforts like last night won't hold well for us in the final stretch. It wasn't pretty, but we managed to navigate through a tricky stretch of games after the ASG (which included a West Coast Trip; games against Toronto, Atlanta, Cleveland, Golden State).

Here is our schedule in chronological order:

Chicago Bulls
Minnesota Timberwolves
@Brooklyn Nets
@Philadelphia 76ers
Washington Wizards
Indiana Pacers
Phoenix Suns
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Orlando Magic
@NY Knicks
Cleveland Cavaliers
@Atlanta Hawks
@Charlotte Hornets
Brooklyn Nets
Milwaukee Bucks

To sum it up, 11 of our final 16 games are AT HOME (including some big games against playoff teams like Washington, Cleveland, Indiana, Chicago, etc.). Our road games aren't too overwhelming besides maybe the Atlanta and Charlotte games. All in all, we are set up to do well in this, on paper, easy looking stretch.

Last year, the Celtics looked to have the inside track on the #3 seed, but near the end of the season blew games they should have won (eerily similar to the Phoenix game last Sunday), and injuries ultimately cost them not only the 3 seed, but a chance at home court advantage in the first round. This season, that can't happen, Celtics need to close out the season well and try to stay healthy (even if it means limiting some player's minutes when leading big).

My Prediction: We go 11-5 to finish the season and end with a 52-30 record.

Will that ensure us the #2 seed? Idk. But I doubt it makes us finish anything lower than a 3 seed (unless Toronto go on some insane winning streak to end the season).

What do you guys hope/predict?

[hodgy03038]

Thanks for listing this. I think we win 12 depending on if they don't go crazy and rest players extensively. I think we split with Milwaukee. I think we lose to Minnesota, Cleveland (pay back to us). Miami (just playing great now). We need pay back to Washington, Atlanta & Phoenix. BTW, TP to you.

[WolfofCausewayStreet]

If Marcus Smart makes even 40% of his field goals, Jae and AB stop chucking and drive to the rim, and IT stops his hero ball chucking nonsense, maybe we might stand half a chance.

And if Horford and KO show up consistently. May be too much to ask from the softest bigs in the league though.

[dwlefty13]

13-3

I feel a strong run is coming with this team to end the season and make the playoff run. I know they haven't played their best basketball lately but its good to have some home games again (only 2 since all-star break) and with a healthy lineup (and I hope good fortune last through the end including playoffs) we should finally see some consistency in the rotations and overall play heading into the postseason.

That 2nd seed is vital. It is a MUST to get it for any shot of an ECF berth and this final streach SHOULD give the boys in green the inside track for it. Will see.

[Phantom255x]

If Marcus Smart makes even 40% of his field goals, Jae and AB stop chucking and drive to the rim, and IT stops his hero ball chucking nonsense, maybe we might stand half a chance.

And if Horford and KO show up consistently. May be too much to ask from the softest bigs in the league though.

Well I mean if all that happened we would probably win the NBA Finals 

[WolfofCausewayStreet]

If Marcus Smart makes even 40% of his field goals, Jae and AB stop chucking and drive to the rim, and IT stops his hero ball chucking nonsense, maybe we might stand half a chance.

And if Horford and KO show up consistently. May be too much to ask from the softest bigs in the league though.

Well I mean if all that happened we would probably win the NBA Finals 

Definitely not. At best we'd still lose in 5 games to the Cavaliers.

[TheSundanceKid]

Undefeated of course

We should do enough to grab the 2nd seed and that is what's important. Just have to stay healthy for the playoffs!

[Phantom255x]

If Marcus Smart makes even 40% of his field goals, Jae and AB stop chucking and drive to the rim, and IT stops his hero ball chucking nonsense, maybe we might stand half a chance.

And if Horford and KO show up consistently. May be too much to ask from the softest bigs in the league though.

Well I mean if all that happened we would probably win the NBA Finals 

Definitely not. At best we'd still lose in 5 games to the Cavaliers.

With the injuries happening around the league, it's still possible IF every single thing you mentioned would happen and happen "consistently".

[Phantom255x]

Undefeated of course

We should do enough to grab the 2nd seed and that is what's important. Just have to stay healthy for the playoffs!

Yep. I hope we grab 2 and face DET. We match up well against them.

Not really against CHI or IND (and as of now we would face IND in 3 v 6 seeding match up).

[jpotter33]

We're in the driver's seat for the number 2 seed. Our schedule is substantially easier than Washington's schedule down the stretch, but as we've seen this year with this team, schedule doesn't matter if the effort isn't there. We'll have to actually play well to secure the number two seed, but we're certainly in the driver's seat to keep it.

Pretty much I think  it'll boil down to who wins our final game against them. If they win, then they'll gain a full game on us and own the playoff tiebreaker. If we win, then we'll gain a game on them and be 90% likely to own the playoff tiebreaker.

Hopefully the Trailblazers beat them tonight after an OT game in Sacramento last night. I might start getting a bit nervous if they come out with another win tonight.

[Moranis]

Looking at the schedule I'd say there are 8 games that should be wins, 3 games that are likely wins, 2 games that should be losses, and 3 games that could go either way.  So I'd say the team should win 11, 12, or 13, which is at least 52 wins.

I'd peg Washington at 11-7 or 51 wins.  I'd put Toronto at 12-5 or 50 wins.

[droopdog7]

If I'm not mistaken, the preseason predictions had us at 52.5 wins or so.  The majority of the fan base scoffed at that but it's looking spot on right now.

[konkmv]

We know our weaknesses..  But we all should understand how tough it is to play 90 games per year..  Everyone is resting players now because of injury fear..at this stage everyone can beat anyone...  I will be pleased with 50 wins and above...

[jpotter33]

If I'm not mistaken, the preseason predictions had us at 52.5 wins or so.  The majority of the fan base scoffed at that but it's looking spot on right now.

The majority of the fan base also didn't expect AB, Al, and Jae to miss large chunks of the season either, let alone all of our other injuries.

We're probably a 60 win team if we were healthy this year. I think at least some of the inconsistency with this team is due to the injuries that have caused chemistry issues and inconsistent play/rotations this season.

[TheTruthFot18]

The schedule is WEAK these last 16. Two toughest games are Washington and Cleveland at home and Cleveland is near the end. The might shut it down by then. The rest are bottom playoff teams or lotto teams, many from the East.

10-12 is reasonable.