Should we win/lose games to face Boston in playoffs?

[azuresou1]

I know this is a somewhat heretical question, but if it's late in the season, should we intentionally lose games to face Boston in the second round instead of Cleveland or Orlando? Even if we end up facing Orlando in the ECF, we might build up steam by clearing the second round, to say nothing of that they might get knocked out by the Cavs. We would also likely have a better first round matchup.

I'd rather face
Toronto in the 1st, Boston in the 2nd, and Cleveland in the ECF
than
Charlotte in the 1st, Orlando in the 2nd, and Cleveland in the ECF.

Thoughts?

[raleigh]

Not sure I understand. The only way to face Boston in the 2nd (assuming Cleveland has the 1st seed wrapped up) is if Orlando finishes 4th, right? In which case, winning is the only option.

[azuresou1]

Sorry, I guess my main point would be avoiding Orlando. Boston was just my preferred matchup of the other Big 4 teams.

If Orlando makes the 1st seed, we aim for 2nd/3rd.
If Orlando finishes the 2nd seed, we tank a few games for 4th.

[raleigh]

^^^Okay. That makes sense.

Toronto in Round 1.
Cleveland in EC Semis.
Boston in ECF. (Celtics, if healthy, have best shot at beating Orlando, IMO).
Nuggets in Finals.

[evildallas]

We should win as much as possible and let the chips fall where they may. Realistically our greatest hope to advance might be finish 4th and host Toronto and hope that Charlotte finishes 8th and can upset Cleveland in round 1. We've played the worst against Orlando this year, but we can't orchestrate avoiding them.

[raleigh]

we can't orchestrate avoiding them.

Not until the last week or so, no. But I do see his point about how to approach things "down the stretch."

[SAUCERY_SWEET]

Never smart IMO to lose games purposely no matter what the circumstances, you create a precedent when you do that. Not to mention the fact that it's no guarantee even if it works out like you planned that the team you target will be complying. The regular season is not the playoffs,Nate has basically beat us by himself with the freaking pre-McGrady Knicks and now he's with Boston. it's not as clear cut as some of you may think. Hell I would love to play Cleveland or Boston in the 2nd round, the Champion will eventually have to beat everybody and overcome many obstacles regardless of who it is. Taking the easy way and back sliding is never the answer cause your not preparing yourself properly enough for the next goal/task.

[gino_giode]

Hey guys, good bipolar loss and win against the Warriors and Jazz. I agree with some of you guys that tanking is stupid unless you're the Nets. I'm really pulling for you guys to beat/tie the Celtics (but still less than the Magic) going into the playoffs. Only because I want Cleveland to battle it out vs Boston this year instead of cruising into the finals. And I assume you guys would rather face us in the 2nd round instead of the Cavs.

So it's win-win for us 2 teams if you can take care of your games and best the Celtics. GL guys.

[TeamMago7]

Please don't face the Raptors! LOL

[Joe Kleazy]

^^^Okay. That makes sense.

Toronto in Round 1.
Cleveland in EC Semis.
Boston in ECF. (Celtics, if healthy, have best shot at beating Orlando, IMO).
Nuggets in Finals.

[FCNATL85]

Non sense in any case but especially now that they have Robinson...who we cannot defend!

[Harry10]

here is how i think we should want the standing to be for the playoffs:

1 Cleveland
2 Orlando
3 Atlanta
4 Boston
5 Toronto
6 Chicago
7 Miami
8 Milwaukee

===== 1st round
Cleveland
Milwaukee

Orlando
Miami

Atlanta
Chicago

Boston
Toronto

- Jermaine does very well against Dwight and Wade usually does very well against the Magic
- Jack does something that Calderon and Bosh could never do and gives the Rap some leadership. KG gets hurt and Bosh doesn't have a problem against the C's other bigs

===== 2nd round
Cleveland
Miami

Atlanta
Toronto
===== ECF
Cleveland
Atlanta

-Lebron pulls a Eugene Robinson while in ATL

===== Finals
Utah
Atlanta

- no Lebron, Wade, Kobe, Carmelo, Dwight, the 2010 Finals becomes the lowest TV ratings in history.

[azuresou1]

That's some wishful thinking there Harry

[D21]

===== 1st round
1 Cleveland - 8 Milwaukee
2 Orlando - 7 Miami
3 Atlanta - 6 Chicago
4 Boston - 5 Toronto

===== 2nd round
Cleveland - Miami
Atlanta - Toronto

Problem here.

CLE would play the winner of BOS - TOR, not ORL - MIA
ATL would play the winner of ORL - MIA, not BOS - TOR