Race for 3rd spot in East - Celtics possible 2nd round matchup

[libermaniac]

With the caveat that I don't want to jinx the Cs in their first round matchup, the race for who gets the 3rd spot in the East in certainly interesting to us as it would likely be the C's second round matchup.

Currently, Cleveland is one game ahead of Philly for that spot 44-29 to 43-30, but Cleveland has the harder remaining schedule.  Also, Cleveland is 2-1 in head to head vs. Philly but they have one game remaining in Philly on 4/6.  Indy is 2 games back in loss column, but very tough schedule, so I'm not including them below.

Cleveland remaining schedule:
----------------------------------
@ MIA
@ CHAR
vs NO
vs DALL
vs TOR
vs WASH
@ PHIL
@ NYK
vs NYK

Philly remaining schedule:
-----------------------------
vs NYK
@ ATL
@ CHAR
vs BKN
@ DET
vs CLE
vs DALL
@ ATL
vs MIL

[MattyIce]

last 4 of 5 will likely be wins...i think toronto will lose on purpose to help cleveland stay out of their bracket and washington may also lose to try for 7th seed...NY will tank both

[footey]

last 4 of 5 will likely be wins...i think toronto will lose on purpose to help cleveland stay out of their bracket and washington may also lose to try for 7th seed...NY will tank both

Not if we beat them. Then they risk losing 1st place to us.

[Moranis]

I object to this thread.  Let's win the 1st round before we start talking about the 2nd round.

[Chris]

I object to this thread.  Let's win the 1st round before we start talking about the 2nd round.

Agreed.  If the C's can get out of the first round without Smart and Irving (potentially), then we can look at competition, with a better idea of who the C's will even have on the court.

[playdream]

Sixers, Bucks are easy matchups, Heat and Watchinton not so much
I will rather play Cavs then Raptors, we have bigs now to handle or even punch theirs and we have semi to lock down Lebron. if Smart make it back 2nd round we have big chance knock out the Cavs

[libermaniac]

I object to this thread.  Let's win the 1st round before we start talking about the 2nd round.

I assume you are joking. I put the non-jinx caveat in my OP. Other than that it’s like saying why ever look to the future? Do you object to threads involving our draft picks, etc? Let’s worry about this season before worrying about draft picks. 

[Moranis]

I object to this thread.  Let's win the 1st round before we start talking about the 2nd round.

I assume you are joking. I put the non-jinx caveat in my OP. Orher than that it’s like saying why ever look to the future? Do you object to threads involving our draft picks, etc? Let’s worry about this season before worrying about draft picks. 

Not at all.  I think it is perfectly reasonable to talk about Cleveland and Philly's chances of the 3rd seed, but I feel weird about doing it in the context of likely opponents for Boston, since Boston and that other team actually have to win.

That said, I want Boston to avoid the potential of having to play both Cleveland and Toronto, so here's hoping Philly catches Cleveland.

[Chris]

I object to this thread.  Let's win the 1st round before we start talking about the 2nd round.

I assume you are joking. I put the non-jinx caveat in my OP. Orher than that it’s like saying why ever look to the future? Do you object to threads involving our draft picks, etc? Let’s worry about this season before worrying about draft picks. 

Not at all.  I think it is perfectly reasonable to talk about Cleveland and Philly's chances of the 3rd seed, but I feel weird about doing it in the context of likely opponents for Boston, since Boston and that other team actually have to win.

That said, I want Boston to avoid the potential of having to play both Cleveland and Toronto, so here's hoping Philly catches Cleveland.

I also think it is hard to really discuss matchups for the C's, when there is so much variability of who would even be playing in the second round, assuming they make it.  For example, my answers for this vary considerably if Smart is playing or not, and even moreso if there is no Irving.

[libermaniac]

I object to this thread.  Let's win the 1st round before we start talking about the 2nd round.

I assume you are joking. I put the non-jinx caveat in my OP. Orher than that it’s like saying why ever look to the future? Do you object to threads involving our draft picks, etc? Let’s worry about this season before worrying about draft picks. 

Not at all.  I think it is perfectly reasonable to talk about Cleveland and Philly's chances of the 3rd seed, but I feel weird about doing it in the context of likely opponents for Boston, since Boston and that other team actually have to win.

That said, I want Boston to avoid the potential of having to play both Cleveland and Toronto, so here's hoping Philly catches Cleveland.

I also think it is hard to really discuss matchups for the C's, when there is so much variability of who would even be playing in the second round, assuming they make it.  For example, my answers for this vary considerably if Smart is playing or not, and even moreso if there is no Irving.

Any way you slice it any team other than Cleveland is preferable to Cleveland. If they get 4 then the Cs would avoid them until the ECF. If, in fact, the Cs are fortunate enough to make it that far. So no harm in rooting for Cleveland to fall to 4th.

[libermaniac]

UPDATED:  Cle 44-30, Phil 43-30

Cleveland remaining schedule:
----------------------------------
@ MIA - L
@ CHAR
vs NO
vs DALL
vs TOR
vs WASH
@ PHIL
@ NYK
vs NYK

Philly remaining schedule:
-----------------------------
vs NYK
@ ATL
@ CHAR
vs BKN
@ DET
vs CLE
vs DALL
@ ATL
vs MIL

[trickybilly]

Super weird that we would probably be best placed for a title run if the first series goes 7...

[Jiri Welsch]

Super weird that we would probably be best placed for a title run if the first series goes 7...

Or even better: If the team we (hopefully) are playing in the 2nd Round goes 7!

[RockinRyA]

I object to this thread.  Let's win the 1st round before we start talking about the 2nd round.

I assume you are joking. I put the non-jinx caveat in my OP. Other than that it’s like saying why ever look to the future? Do you object to threads involving our draft picks, etc? Let’s worry about this season before worrying about draft picks. 

As fans there is nothing wrong with speculating about the future, or what-ifs scenario. We can speculate about a possible finals matchup and it wont affect the team in any way. Why is a mod objecting to it? Are such discussions not allowed in CB anymore?

[gift]

I object to this thread.  Let's win the 1st round before we start talking about the 2nd round.

I assume you are joking. I put the non-jinx caveat in my OP. Other than that it’s like saying why ever look to the future? Do you object to threads involving our draft picks, etc? Let’s worry about this season before worrying about draft picks. 

As fans there is nothing wrong with speculating about the future, or what-ifs scenario. We can speculate about a possible finals matchup and it wont affect the team in any way. Why is a mod objecting to it? Are such discussions not allowed in CB anymore?

Yep, it's exactly what fans do. I mean, how many people have looked at Golden State's injuries and thought that a title might just be a little more realistic? There's no guarantee anyone is getting to the finals. It's not like we're actually game planning here.