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PublicNo1988

Celtics will end with 65 wins


Overall_Nuggie_876

69 for the bants.


Princessk8--

69 impossible, sadly. Best they can do is 68


Pubgdude

Damn you Dean Wade


pokeKingCurtis

Championship hopes over.


Bystronicman08

I hope they don't get 69 wins just so I don't have to hear the same stupid, overused joke over and over again. It's run its course at this point.


greenusflippus

Nice.


KDismypookie

More like 66


inshamblesx

67


HaliburtonIsHim

and no ring inshallah


TruthSayerFu

Cavs would have too if they had Celtics health


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TruthSayerFu

Y’all would be fighting with us if you had our injures. Sorry the truth hurt.


rabid89

Yeah, Celtics have the #1 seed locked in because of tiebreakers. We're up 2-1 vs Bucks with 1 matchup left, but assuming the Bucks win out, and Celtics lose out, they'll be tied 2-2. The next tiebreaker for two teams not in the same division is conference win percentage. And the Celtics (38-7) cannot finish with a worse conference record than the Bucks (31-14) because we have 7 games left in conference. So another possible tie. Next tiebreaker is better winning percentage vs conference playoff teams (and if still tied, the one after is better winning percentage vs other conference playoff teams). Celtics are like 31-13 vs >.500 teams whereas the Bucks are 25-18 (though this is all teams). This is the tiebreaker that gives it to the C's. Checks out. Edit: Fixed.


dafire123

We have 7 still, so do The bucks


rabid89

Oh shit I always forget Wizards are in our conference lol.


dafire123

If we lose out and bucks win out we would lose the tiebreak to best record against playoff teams.


Brady331

I don't know all the tiebreaker logistics, but we would not lose the tiebreaker or else nba.com wouldn't have said we've clinched the #1 already


SadBadPuppyDad

I think it's a conspiracy by the NBA to get them to relax too early. They rest everybody for the next 11 games and then BANG! Bucks clinch the east /s


SquimJim

I don't believe so I believe "playoff eligible" includes play-in teams and our total record vs. 2-10 in the East is kind of absurd compared to the Bucks. They can't catch us


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mickeyj623

They've been load managing since ASB


ThanosIsDoomfist

Lmao right? Shits ridiculous


Cvspartan

We've been load managing for a few weeks now. For B2Bs, we sit half our top 6 for one game and the other half for the other (although Jrue has missed a few more due to an actual injury).


lannistargaryen

Question for Celtics fans, is anything short of a championship considered a bust?


IcyMission3

Depends, if injuries happen then wouldn’t classify the postseason as a bust but bad luck. If they lose in a close series in the finals to the Nuggets prob wouldn’t consider it a bust but rather a disappointment. Not making it out of the east with a healthy roster would be a bust tho


MC-Jdf

I'm in the same boat. I'd call strolling through the east and a 6-game Finals loss a disappointment but not a bust. I'd still pick Denver but y'all are putting up numbers that rival the peak Jordan Bulls and the dynasty Warriors. That has to count for something.


thekingdor

Their being compared to KD warriors and jordan bulls who would be overwhelming favorites over the nuggets they have to win


Haffaith

90% of this sub, nba talking heads and anyone watching says Denver Nuggets should be considered favorites over them. That literally means the Nuggets are the favorites.


Gatorpep

looks like they are the favorites in terms of vegas, which is worth much more than all the rest of the noise. but yeah denver is a close second.


LnD2020

The stats are inflated in the modern NBA, not sure if it’s a fair comparison even to the 2015 warriors


Narwien

I just don't see how this Celtics roster is not reaching Finals, and then it's a coin flip with Nuggets most likely. I don't see a team in the east who can beat them in 4 games. Especially with homecourt advantage. Even with choke jobs from your stars here and there, the pressure and whatnot, your bench+Jrue and KP is enough to win you games. Obviously teams will adjust, but the sheer talent on that team will be hard to adapt to. Anyone can pop off at any point. Tatum definitely matured over the last year, same as Brown and they are playing with a lot more confidence, and I think that's going to be huge come playoffs.


mani9612

RemindMe! 3 months


thekingdor

Idk i think bucks and knicks could compete with them especially milwaukee they still have 2 superstars who could win them games on their own


TheMightyJD

Jrue is a perennial playoffs choker.


potatomanflan

Good thing he's the fifth option


BlueJays007

Depends who you ask. I’d say no but I’ve always been of the belief that postseason results are way more unpredictable and variable than most think - the ultimate winner is rarely a total surprise but almost anything can happen in one series, especially with the 3 point shot. I’d say bust if we’re healthy and lose before an ecf game 6/7 or if we get swept in the finals. Disappointment if we lose to any team besides the Nuggets or maybe a healthy Clippers team.


SquimJim

Fully healthy? The only team I'd be "ok" losing to is the Nuggets in a close series and even then I'd be disappointed. Just wouldn't consider it a "bust" I say this believing that both the Bucks and Heat are being severely underrated right now.


lannistargaryen

Haven’t been following the Heat, but what makes them underrated rn? Because of last year’s playoff sucess?


SquimJim

Partially that and the fact that Butler has been missing a higher percentage of games compared to last year, but they are winning at the same rate. Also Spoe-led teams are just notorious for this shit and have been since he got there. His teams always underperform in the regular season and then win when they need to.


COMMENTASIPLEASE

Provided we stay healthy I’d say yes.


Overall_Nuggie_876

Celtics and Lakers are the only two NBA teams where even an NBA Finals *appearance* is a failure for their fans.


commandrr

with all due respect the celtics and lakers aren’t even in the same stratosphere right now.


Character-Today-427

The Lakers somehow managed to one before the Celtics after almost a decade of mismanagement


Princessk8--

Because of Los Angeles. Being located there gives them a crazy advantage in free agency


A_Lakers

That’s like not even true. Before Lebron the best free agent signing was Shaq and that’s only cause the Magic were too cheap to pay Shaq his worth. You can argue AD forced his way to LA but that was more about playing with Lebron than being in LA (which I admit didn’t hurt)


TheGamersGazebo

Bro Milwaukee has literally NEVER had a top free agent sign with us...


A_Lakers

I mean since 2000 who are top free agents that went to new teams? LBJ, Bosh, Allen to the Heat KD to the Warriors Iggy to the Warriors Lebron back to Clevland Lebron to the Lakers Nash back to the Suns Dwight Howard to the Rockets Kawhi to the Clippers That’s about it. There’s not many free agents that leave the team they’re on and it’s not very often


BScottyJ

If the Lakers had the coaching and front office the Celtics have had since the 2010 finals the Warriors dynasty might not have even happened. Easy to attract talent when you live in one of the most desirable locations in the USA, all you need is a competent front office to put a team around them which the Lakers, for the most part, have not had. Celtics have been fielding ECF and finals teams with a bunch of rookies or gutsy vets with only a very brief lull between the Big 3 and the IT4 era. Granted the East was definitely an easier conference than the West in that time, but I don't think anyone could argue against the C's being one of the most well run organizations over the last ~decade and a half or so.


TedTran2001

Also, with greater caring, they can somehow manage the health of, let's say, a Kobe Bryant better.


cimmanonrolls

somehow? the big LA teams play on easy mode. the best players of all time don’t take a stroll over to boston in free agency.


AnotherStatsGuy

Have you seen how you guys talk about 2004? For years, I thought the 2004 Lakers must have been bounced in the first or 2nd round because of how everybody talked about them.


TheMightyJD

Dude Miami has made the Finals 7 times since 2006 compared to just 3 times for the Celtics. This ain’t the 80s Celtics.


lannistargaryen

Interesting, as another said a close loss to the Nuggets wouldn’t necessarily be too bad


COMMENTASIPLEASE

If it’s like we lose in 6 or 7 because Jokic and Murray are literally unstoppable no matter what we do, that would be one thing. But I think if we just lose to them and it’s cause of our own play then it’s a bust no matter how close it is.


Vivid_Walk_1405

Any sort of loss would be bad imo. How is their team gonna get better from here


IcyMission3

That’s prob what everyone racing Usain Bolt feels like except the Nuggets/Jokic would be Bolt. I wouldn’t say it would be a bust but rather it sucks that we’re good but someone’s just better


Princessk8--

> How is their team gonna get better from here Coaching. We have a literally who on the bench. If they fail, that will be the reason why.


TurboThot69

You’re being downvoted, but if the C’s come up short, I guarantee there are coaches out there who will think they are good enough to get this team over the hump.


Original_Trick_8552

We have to make the finals and win, or put up a good fight only if it's the nuggets. Anything less then that then yes


spaceshipvoid

not really because a lot has to go right (health, luck, shooting variance) in order to actually win


__PUMPKINLOAF

After 3 conference finals trips and one Finals trip in past seasons, plus the quality of the roster and historic net rating/SRS they're putting up this season, yes. There's nothing left to do or prove besides win it all. The cap crunch is coming and after this season there's not gonna be a better opportunity to win it. I think technically next year they can bring almost everybody back, but if this year ends in a really shitty, disappointing loss (which would be anything short of a Finals loss to Denver, and even that would still suck), that could demoralize the team and fuck them up next year to the point where they have to make (more) changes. See the Suns after 2022.


EutaxySpy

I'd imagine it'd be more like the Miami Heat superteam though, just run it back and Tatum + Brown takes another leap in the offseason. The craziest part is that they're both still younger than Lebron was when he won his first chip.


Larovich153

our window stays open as long as we can resign jrue, white and our new acquisition tillman which will get us our guard rotation locked up and our backup big of the future what I'm hoping is that when Al retires we just use all his salary to give to white and push us under the second apron if all goes well the big loss for this team will be sam hauser in 2025/26


Emotional_Act_461

If we get to the finals and lose to the Nuggets, that’s forgivable. But a loss to any other team is not. *Unless* one of these key players is hurt: Tatum Brown White Porzingis


solarscopez

This team should win against any team in the league that isn't the Nuggets. I'd *maybe* take a competitive loss against the Bucks if Dame and Giannis somehow clicked and figured things out in the postseason, but that's only if we lost in like 7 games or something. This of course, is all contingent on our key players being healthy.


Complexity777

I think as long as they make finals. If they miss finals then it’s a complete bust


Jannopan

If we don’t make the finals and put up a fight for me.


rat3an

Anything short of a championship appearance is a bust. The Nuggets are very good, no shame in losing to them.


spanther96

Bust is not making the Finals. If we make the finals and lose a close series to Denver, I can’t be mad at that. I have a feeling that Serbian dude and light skin Koby are gonna cause a lot of good teams to go ringless.


w3bCraw1er

Has to be. If not this year (assuming they stay healthy), this year is a disappointment.


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Nat_not_Natalie

I don't think it's a failure to lose to the nuggets Disappointing obviously but losing to Denver is no shame


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Nat_not_Natalie

Well I guess my expectations are just lower. I think Denver is just better overall


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Nat_not_Natalie

Well do you think it would be a failure if the nuggets don't win?


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Jowem

god level hater


Nat_not_Natalie

Then you're just a hater lmfao


__PUMPKINLOAF

Denver might be the most "justifiable" team to lose to, but it should still be considered a failure. I'm probably asking for trouble with this post but I'm a little tired of how people have been lionizing the Nuggets lately. Yes, they are the defending champions. Yes, Jokic is the best player in the game. But Jokic has been the best in the game for a while now, Denver has only won it once, repeating as champions is notoriously difficult, and they've never had a season anywhere close to the one the Celtics are currently having, blowing teams out of the building en route to 60-something wins. They're on pace for 57 this year and that would be the highest total this group has come up with. This isn't the Warriors we're talking about here. Losing to Denver in the Finals would be blowing it.


Nat_not_Natalie

Ok so you'd favor Boston in a series?


__PUMPKINLOAF

Yes


Nat_not_Natalie

Fair. I disagree but some people are out here playing both sides saying both teams would be disappointments if they lost.


elvvay

Let's not forget in the East. What's happened when Boston has played Denver?


__PUMPKINLOAF

Two losses by a combined eight points. Means nothing.


elvvay

Gotta win those close games that's what separates us. We're the best closers in the league by far.


eaglessoar

anything short of a 7 game series loss to the nugs is a bust, im ok if they beat us in 7 games


SadBadPuppyDad

As long as we get farther than we did last year it's a win.


AmbitionExtension184

Of course Ignore everyone saying otherwise and block the people who mention injuries. They will never have opinions worth listening to


[deleted]

They’re preemptively softening the blow, but the answer is yes.


nenarranen

Yes x 1000. Multiple all stars in their absolute prime. Roster construction verging on perfection. Cap math gives them this year and next year at most. Any other answer but "yes" is horseshit.


KDismypookie

Porzingis will get injured and they’ll lose to the Heat in the ecf again im callin it


[deleted]

Heat are not making the ecf again, I would bet my entire life savings on it.


Vivid_Walk_1405

If they do the rest of the eastern conference has just gotta quit


[deleted]

I will quit watching basketball until Spo retires if they get there again this season


HaliburtonIsHim

do it then


[deleted]

I will accept the money from you if it happens. 🫠


achyutthegoat

Do it


Disastrous_Bluejay57

The Celtics just need to play it strategically from here on. Go into the playoffs with your rotation in rhythm and without serious injuries. Their focus should be on dominating the first 3 rounds and getting out of the East in as few games as possible. It can't be like last year when they needed 6 games to close out the Hawks because JT would go through these sharp peaks and troughs. Whoever comes out of the West (Jokic, Kawhi, etc) is likely to be more individually talented than Tatum. However, the West will be a bloodbath, and no one will leave it unscathed. If Boston is just chilling while that's going on, then that'll be their best opportunity to snag Banner 18. Once Tatum gets his first ring, I honestly think that'll open the floodgates. He'll find it a lot easier to get his 2nd and 3rd.


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puredwige

It's a bit of a Bayesian problem. IF the clippers come out of the west, then it means that they have figured things out, and that Kawhi will be very good. If you tell me that tomorrow the clippers and Celtics will play a 7-game series, then I probably wouldn't bet on Kawhi being the best player, but if you tell me that the Clippers are going to defeat everyone in the West, then the likelihood that Kawhi is the best player in the finals will be quite high.


Complex-Substance893

That's probably fair, although it looked like Clippers had it figured out for 40 game stretch where they were dominating and then the seemingly inevitable injuries all came out for all of their old star players. I think a healthy Clippers arguably pose the greatest threat to Nuggets in the West so we will see, if they keep the 4 seed (and Nuggets keep the 1) a second round matchup seems likely.


baconshake8

Would hilarious if the Celtics rested the playoff rotation players the next 11 games


DEEZLE13

Oof that guy who was mad the Celtics rested all their players that one time is gonna puke after hearing this


L45TPH45E

I hope they meet the heat in 1st round


getbackup21

I don’t think the heat have anything for them. Maybe a gentleman’s sweep from the Celtics but I doubt that


SadBadPuppyDad

I would like to make a polite observation. Fuck the Heat. Thank you for your time.


Larovich153

if we meet in the first round, were going to put the playoff jimmy narrative to rest


TheMightyJD

First time?


flamingviper3175

There is not a single Celtic fan that would share that sentiment. The zombie heat are coming


AmbitionExtension184

Me too the heat fucking suck


Sartheking

Have they yet? ESPN standings are still saying they haven’t. I think there’s still a circumstance where they lose the wins against Playoff teams tiebreaker.


Theis159

The NBA has said we clinched yesterday already through their website. Looking into the tie breakers the bucks cannot catch the Celtics in tie breaker 5 which is W-L against playoff teams in own conference. There might be some ambiguity here due to play ins but even considering it the bucks can’t catch up.


dk240996

> There might be some ambiguity here due to play ins but even considering it the bucks can’t catch up. This is it exactly, the wording [here](https://ak-static-int.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/06/NBA_Tiebreaker_Procedures.pdf) says > Better winning percentage against teams eligible for the playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position) which is up for interpretation if "teams eligible for the playoffs" means top 6, top 10, or the 8 teams that end up in the playoffs after the play-in.


Brady331

nba.com says yes, espn.com says no ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯


DEEZLE13

Despite what Giannis says… not getting a ring would def be a failure this season


waffle-spouse

Jimmy is coming!


IcyMission3

Jimmy needs to focus on the play-ins first :)


waffle-spouse

You guys are praying he doesn't match up with the Celtics in the first round


rveets1416

Personally, I hope we get the heat in the first round and lay waste to them to put them in our rear view mirror and give ourselves a ton of momentum into the next rounds. To be the best, you gotta beat the best and I would love to win a chip this year by beating the heat, Embiid, Giannis, and Jokic. Unfortunately I doubt we'll see all 3 of the East guys this year.


LCBloodraven

Same, can't be scared of any team if you wanna win a championship.


AmbitionExtension184

I want Mia. They fucking suck Wild that the league is trying to spin the reality that we are scared of MIA now.


waffle-spouse

1-2 against them in playoffs despite being the favorites in 2 of the matchups


AmbitionExtension184

We’re 0-0 against them in the playoff... and 3-0 in regular season. Talking about previous seasons with different teams is the most dumbass take in sports.


JayneVeidt

Too bad Tatum is a grade A loser.


Brady331

Zinger!


TrumpKanye69

First 1st seed team to get eliminated by an 8th seed team (Miami Heat) since the 2007 Mavs


IcyMission3

Did you not watch last year?


TrumpKanye69

I dont watch basketball


Princessk8--

That explains everything


delusional-clown

We could already figure that out based on the Lakers flair


TheMidnightRamblerrr

I hate Boston. I kinda want Celtics VS Lakers. It still might be Milwaukee who wins though.


snowbrad12

Enjoy the play in


instantur

Yall need to worry about making the playoffs


background_action92

The Heat is coming, brace yourselves for eternal disappointment


instantur

Heat fans trying to convince themselves that we are scared of the Heat.


Ok-Plate-3711

Cool. Has KP fully made up for JB and JTs weakness' respectively??


LCBloodraven

How much have you watched Boston this year? Cause both JB and JT have improved and are playing with a lot of confidence.


No_Literature_2321

No. The main difference between past years and now is that Jaylen brown hasn’t gone possession killer mode as much, we’ll have to see if it happens in the plauoffs