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After watching the Cavs beat the Lakers on Sunday, I think it would be much better to have the Celts and the Cavs play each other in the playoffs and the winner play us. The only way that happens is if we get the #1 seed, which means Boston has to come back to earth and we need to stop giving away games. Here is Boston's remaining schedule, with potential losses in bold. They are currently 34-8.

Tue, Jan 29 @ Miami
Thu, Jan 31 Dallas
Tue, Feb 5 @ Cleveland
Wed, Feb 6 LA Clippers
Fri, Feb 8 @ Minnesota
Sun, Feb 10 San Antonio
Tue, Feb 12 @ Indiana
Wed, Feb 13 NY Knicks
Tue, Feb 19 @ Denver
Wed, Feb 20 @ Golden State
Fri, Feb 22 @ Phoenix
Sun, Feb 24 @ Portland
Mon, Feb 25 @ LA Clippers
Wed, Feb 27 Cleveland
Fri, Feb 29 Charlotte
Sun, Mar 2 Atlanta
Wed, Mar 5 Detroit
Fri, Mar 7 Chicago
Sat, Mar 8 @ Memphis
Mon, Mar 10 @ Philadelphia
Wed, Mar 12 Seattle
Fri, Mar 14 Utah
Sat, Mar 15 @ Milwaukee
Mon, Mar 17 @ San Antonio
Tue, Mar 18 @ Houston
Thu, Mar 20 @ Dallas
Sat, Mar 22 @ New Orleans
Mon, Mar 24 Philadelphia
Wed, Mar 26 Phoenix
Fri, Mar 28 New Orleans
Sun, Mar 30 Miami
Tue, Apr 1 @ Chicago
Wed, Apr 2 Indiana
Sat, Apr 5 @ Charlotte
Tue, Apr 8 @ Milwaukee
Wed, Apr 9 @ Washington
Fri, Apr 11 Milwaukee
Sat, Apr 12 @ Atlanta
Mon, Apr 14 @ NY Knicks
Wed, Apr 16 New Jersey

That's a potential 17 more losses, add it to the 8 they already have, that's 25 losses, meaning 57 wins. we certainly have a good shot at getting the #1 seed in the East.

Screw the #1 seed. I'm fine with #2, if only b/c i'm a little superstitious. the #1 record pretty much never even gets to the FInals.

Plus, starting a series on the road will essentially force the Pistons to really focus hard from the get-go and not slack off.

I agree that the #1 seed hasn't meant much, but I'd still rather have it. I'd much rather play Toronto or Orlando in the second round, instead of Cleveland.

I don't really want to race for the 1st seed. If Pistons get it, it will be because Boston struggled. In that case, sure. But I don't want a dog fight for wins at the expense of starter minutes staying down and development time for the youngins.

It may be a dog fight regardless. With Boston going out west twice, I think they are going to drop back to us, and once it is close, I think it will make the end of the season a bit more meaningful for both teams.

Liqourish wrote:I don't really want to race for the 1st seed. If Pistons get it, it will be because Boston struggled. In that case, sure. But I don't want a dog fight for wins at the expense of starter minutes staying down and development time for the youngins.

I agree with your line of thinking.
I want Boston to have the #1 seed. If we face them in the ECF the pressure will be on them to defend their home court, we've been there they haven't

I don't know for sure if I'd concede the #3 seed to Cleveland just yet.

Toronto and Orlando both will have some say in that still.

If the playoffs started today we'd get Atlanta in the First round and likely Orlando in the 2nd round which would be a very good path for us to get back to the ECF again.

If it was anyone but Boston, Id say screw the #1. But it would be advantageous, if we reach the ECF, not to have to play 4 games in the roughest home court in basketball today.

bstein14 wrote:I don't know for sure if I'd concede the #3 seed to Cleveland just yet.

Toronto and Orlando both will have some say in that still.

If the playoffs started today we'd get Atlanta in the First round and likely Orlando in the 2nd round which would be a very good path for us to get back to the ECF again.

It isn't guarenteed, but I'd say it was likely. If SideShow Bob is down for any length of time, that could affect their odds of becoming #3.

All projects go out the window when one of the C's big 3 goes down with injury... they're overworked and injury prone.

A game 7 @ home IS significant.

I think Orlando may be able to hold onto the #3. They are starting to improve on their home court and they have a lot of home games in the second half of the season.

If Orlando does remain 3rd, I think it would be more advantageous for the Pistons to be the #2 seed.

In the first round, the only match-ups that concern me are the Bulls and the Nets. The Bulls obviously match up well with the Pistons and the Nets, while playing really badly right now, have three savvy vets that might heat up at the right moment.

I just hope the C's have to face LeBron, not us.

RTM wrote:I just hope the C's have to face LeBron, not us.

The Celtics present a whole host of match up problems for the Cavs. I think they'd handle the Cavs fairly well. Who would stop Ray Allen? Pierce would tire out LeBron and KG would not be bothered much by Sideshow Varejao. Boston 4-1 or 4-2 IMO.

Roscoe Sheed wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



The Celtics present a whole host of match up problems for the Cavs. I think they'd handle the Cavs fairly well. Who would stop Ray Allen? Pierce would tire out LeBron and KG would not be bothered much by Sideshow Varejao. Boston 4-1 or 4-2 IMO.

I dont really agree with that because we could say the same thing who can stick with Billups, Rip and Sheed and we have Tay to help bother LeBron but it doesnt work that way.

In the playoffs the games slow down and it becomes more grind it out style and if the game is close i wouldnt want to be the team having to deal with LBJ. I think that the Cavs will be able to beat the Celtics for that fact alone. Playoff games are almost always decided at the end of the game with teams of there calibers and LBJ can beat anyone no matter how under matched his team is (besides Spurs). At the end of the game LBJ behind Kobe is the best finisher in the league. I would rather see him after he had to expand all his energy to knock off the Celtics because we have seen what a rested LBJ can do to a team with much more talent.

Champs04bigshot wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I dont really agree with that because we could say the same thing who can stick with Billups, Rip and Sheed and we have Tay to help bother LeBron but it doesnt work that way.

In the playoffs the games slow down and it becomes more grind it out style and if the game is close i wouldnt want to be the team having to deal with LBJ. I think that the Cavs will be able to beat the Celtics for that fact alone. Playoff games are almost always decided at the end of the game with teams of there calibers and LBJ can beat anyone no matter how under matched his team is (besides Spurs). At the end of the game LBJ behind Kobe is the best finisher in the league. I would rather see him after he had to expand all his energy to knock off the Celtics because we have seen what a rested LBJ can do to a team with much more talent.

You may be right. Only time and actual match-ups will tell. I just think the games between the Celts and Cavs just wouldn't be all that close. Even if they were, the Celtics have three guys that can get their own shot as well- the Pistons don't really have that. (If you put a big guard on Chauncey, he struggles; if Sheed is having a rough night, he struggles at the offensive end; Rip, Tay, and Dice aren't very good at getting their own shot).

Roscoe Sheed wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



You may be right. Only time and actual match-ups will tell. I just think the games between the Celts and Cavs just wouldn't be all that close. Even if they were, the Celtics have three guys that can get their own shot as well- the Pistons don't really have that. (If you put a big guard on Chauncey, he struggles; if Sheed is having a rough night, he struggles at the offensive end; Rip, Tay, and Dice aren't very good at getting their own shot).

Thats true their three have different qualities, i guess that i just really dont want to see LBJ if he hasnt had to play them first. I do believe the Cavs would win but i hope that matchup happends in the second round not another cavs pistons series unless its the ECF.

The problem I have with the Celtics is a little bit the same with the Pistons and that's the lack of rebounding both teams display..However, Detroit has experience, and outstanding PG play in regards to their halfcourt offensive execution, and a nice bench.. So it's not a bid deal for you guys..

Boston on the other hand is a team that is counting on a 2nd year guy at the point and IMO a limited bench..Which is critical for a team with older star vets..

Not saying they're better or anything, but a team like Orlando come playoff time could be a factor this year..Especially if Turkoglu is able to maintain his emergence as a top go-to scorer..

I just don't take Orlando seriously. They still seem like another year or two away from being legit. Nelson and Arroyo are not playoff point guards. Lewis and Hedo can score, but what really happens to their offense in a half-court, slow down playoff game? I just don't see them as a threat.

theBigLip wrote:I agree that the #1 seed hasn't meant much, but I'd still rather have it. I'd much rather play Toronto or Orlando in the second round, instead of Cleveland.

I wouldn't. I'm serious, given the choice, I'd say no. I want the Pistons to start their tough series (Boston) on the road.

Da-Met wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
I wouldn't. I'm serious, given the choice, I'd say no. I want the Pistons to start their tough series (Boston) on the road.

I think that is a terrible thing to want for the Pistons. You think that starting on the road would make them come focused to games one and two, which i agree but lets take a look back at the last three seasons.

We lost to Spurs in the finals on the ROAD in games six and seven, the next year we get closed out by Miami on the ROAD, then move to last year we lost to the Cavs in game six on the ROAD. Lets face it that series will come down to game seven and for you to say you would want these Pistons on the road is not a smart thing to say. Role players play way better at home and trust me you dont want a game seven where eddie house, rondo, big baby, and perkins are on the home floor feeling comfortable like Gibson did to us last year.

Home court is a big advantage in game seven i dont care if it makes us more focused in games 1-6 we need to have our role players Stuckey, Maxiell, Afflalo, Hayes feeling more comfortable in that big game.

Wishing us to be on the road for a close out game is not smart. Our track record proves it.