Celtics (43-31) @ Trail Blazers (39-36)

Post #1 » by **Parliament10** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:34 pm

on CSNE, CSNW

@ Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland, Oregon – (Boston Celtics, 5th in Eastern Conference)

Boston Celtics vs. Portland Trailblazers Preview: Celtics, Blazers Fight to Improve Playoff Standing
BY MIGUEL VASQUEZ | March 30, 2016

http://www.christianpost.com/news/boston-celtics-vs-portland-trailblazers-preview-celtics-blazers-fight-to-improve-playoff-standing-160433/#e5uJitWT658DAXKS.99

The Boston Celtics and Portland Trailblazers will be playing against each other to solidify their playoff spots in their respective divisions.

Situated at the number five spot at the Eastern Conference standings, the Celtics will be travelling to the Moda Center in Portland to face the sixth-seeded Blazers on Thursday, March 31st.

The first time the two teams met this season was last March 2nd, with Boston emerging victorious via a 23-point margin, with a final score of 116-93. At the time, the Celtics also marked their 12th consecutive win at home.

Welcome Back, Jae Crowder!!!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB1D9wWxd2w[/youtube]

Portland Trail Blazers Roster, 2015-16
http://www.foxsports.com./nba/portland-trail-blazers-team-roster

Updates (up to Gametime):
[tweet]https://twitter.com/celtics/status/715598990385881088[/tweet]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Victory Cigar
(14) Isaiah Thomas
(7) Avery Bradley
(6) Evan Turner
(4) Jae Crowder
(3) Stevens/Team
(2) Kelly Olynyk
(2) Marcus Smart
(2) Amir Johnson
(2) Jared Sullinger
(1) Tyler Zeller

Ties go to the Team.
___________________________________________________________________________________

(9) Evan Turner
(7) Jared Sullinger
(6) Jae Crowder
(5) Avery Bradley
(5) Kelly Olynyk
(4) Isaiah Thomas
(4) Marcus Smart
(2) Stevens/Team
(1) Amir Johnson

watsonthedragon · Post #2 » by **watsonthedragon** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:43 pm

Gotta find a way to win this one.

Post #3 » by **Froob** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:44 pm

I hope Crowder retweets that incident with #itallstartedinthedriveway.

Post #4 » by **Parliament10** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:48 pm

Froob wrote:I hope Crowder retweets that incident with #itallstartedinthedriveway.

You're always on the ball, Froob.

Green89 · Post #5 » by **Green89** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:58 pm

Since the second of this back to back is going to be our toughest game of the season, we have to find a way to win this one.

CeltsfanSinceBirth · Post #6 » by **CeltsfanSinceBirth** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 7:08 pm

The Blazers will be hungry for revenge. Expecting a loss tonight.

Post #7 » by **Froob** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 7:09 pm

CeltsfanSinceBirth wrote:The Blazers will be hungry for revenge. Expecting a loss tonight.

I hope we don't lose tonight considering the game is scheduled for tomorrow. That'd be ass of shame worthy

.

klemen4 · Post #8 » by **klemen4** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 7:19 pm

If we want to win 1st round in playoffs we need to finish the season 7:1 (loss at GSW), get 3rd seed and play Charlotte. So win is a must here!

Post #9 » by **Bleeding Green** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:09 pm

klemen4 wrote:If we want to win 1st round in playoffs we need to finish the season 7:1 (loss at GSW), get 3rd seed and play Charlotte. So win is a must here!

7-1 would be fantastic. But do you really want to play Charlotte? They're 20-6 in their last 26 games. Charlotte could just as easily be the 3 seed as the 6. I'd rather play Miami all things equal. Last three games on the Celtics schedule are the three teams the Celtics are currently battling the 3 seed for; those are the true must-win games. Win those final three and you can probably afford to lose to the Blazers and Warriors. Then you have the Lakers and Pelicans which should be auto-wins. Milwaukee who knows. Then just hope the Heat, Hawks, and Hornets all beat each other up.

But ultimately it doesn't matter. Top 6 teams are set barring something crazy like one of them going 0-8, and it's just a jumble for who gets which seed from 3-6. Trying to jockey for position to face a specific opponent won't come into play until maybe the final game of the season when the Celtics play the Heat. That could be a game they want to tank to play a specific opponent or one they absolutely want to win to avoid another.

Post #10 » by **Parliament10** » Wed Mar 30, 2016 10:09 pm

Bleeding Green wrote:
klemen4 wrote:If we want to win 1st round in playoffs we need to finish the season 7:1 (loss at GSW), get 3rd seed and play Charlotte. So win is a must here!

7-1 would be fantastic. But do you really want to play Charlotte? They're 20-6 in their last 26 games. Charlotte could just as easily be the 3 seed as the 6. I'd rather play Miami all things equal. Last three games on the Celtics schedule are the three teams the Celtics are currently battling the 3 seed for; those are the true must-win games. Win those final three and you can probably afford to lose to the Blazers and Warriors. Then you have the Lakers and Pelicans which should be auto-wins. Milwaukee who knows. Then just hope the Heat, Hawks, and Hornets all beat each other up.

But ultimately it doesn't matter. Top 6 teams are set barring something crazy like one of them going 0-8, and it's just a jumble for who gets which seed from 3-6. Trying to jockey for position to face a specific opponent won't come into play until maybe the final game of the season when the Celtics play the Heat. That could be a game they want to tank to play a specific opponent or one they absolutely want to win to avoid another.

Agreed. 3-6 seed, is hovering around 1.5pts difference.
Just need to take it game-by-game.

Post #11 » by **Smitty731** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 12:22 am

[tweet]https://twitter.com/celtics/status/715321302400114688[/tweet]

Looks like Crowder could be back for this one!

SMTBSI · Post #12 » by **SMTBSI** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 12:51 am

Not sweating the seeding from 3-6. Just want to see good play against a good team, and no injuries. Crowder can take his time - not worth the risk.

Still kind of keeping the hope alive for 50 wins, in a one-game-at-a-time-and-who-knows-what-can-happen kind of way. So, first step is getting this one.

ConstableGeneva · Post #13 » by **ConstableGeneva** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:11 am

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AdamHimmelsbach/status/715321556025520128[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/CJC9BOSS/status/715341342558199808[/tweet]And on the 3rd game, he rose again...

Spoiler:

threrf23 · Post #14 » by **threrf23** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:25 am

Blazers get by by playing hard, and they don't have anything resembling a strong frontcourt. Meaning, they aren't well equipped to attack our weaknesses. No need to bring Crowder back for this one, IMO

FlatearthZorro · Post #15 » by **FlatearthZorro** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 12:16 pm

Winnable game, depends on how the guys come out. If they are motivated and Jae is back, I don't see a reason, we shouldn't be able to win this.

ConstableGeneva · Post #16 » by **ConstableGeneva** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 12:39 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/mikegrich/status/715266325719822337[/tweet]GAME-CHANGER! We got them now!

Post #17 » by **Froob** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 1:53 pm

Great read on Jae.
https://t.co/LpNy91YvHV

ConstableGeneva · Post #18 » by **ConstableGeneva** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 2:49 pm

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Max_Lederman/status/715561999338508289[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/CelticsHub/status/715551103392288769[/tweet]I am pumped! Go Cs!

truth18 · Post #19 » by **truth18** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 3:03 pm

CrowderKeg wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/CelticsHub/status/715551103392288769[/tweet]I am pumped! Go Cs!

Green89 · Post #20 » by **Green89** » Thu Mar 31, 2016 3:09 pm

The plan is to get Jae into the game for short minutes, to shake some rust off. Then, he'll be good to go when we hand the Warriors their first loss of the season Friday night (or should I say Saturday morning)!