exculpatory wrote:I see that multiple posters have joined ‘our’ most negative poster (and the leader by light years in incorrect, premature, definitive negative predictions for games in progress, seasons in progress, series in progress) in projecting a quick end to our season.
But I most definitely can relate to what these opinions are based upon - glaring inconsistency, youth, injuries, Covid etc.
However, albeit a realist, I choose to believe that 1) we have a real chance to win almost all of our remaining games; 2) the Knicks may well flounder in that all of their remaining 7 games are VS PO teams and/or the Hawks (only 1 game in the L column ahead of us) will lose a few games opening the door to the 5 or 4 seed; 3) we will get up for & beat the Heat twice next week; & 4) we will give the Bucks or Sixers or Nets a run for their money. In the latter regard, if we get it rolling to finish the season & avoid the Play In/get a week off to practice, we will be a very tough out.
Celtics!
(Sorry Joe - I am not ready to join your ‘misery loves company’ club.
I'm in your camp. Staying optimistic.
1) The Nets are only a .500 team in games Harden has missed, since trading for him. Him being healthy for the playoffs is by no means a certainty. Who knows if Durant will be healthy come playoff time either. Durant and playing in game action this season are more on again, off again than Ross and Rachel.
2) If the Celtics have everyone healthy (yes, I know a big if but seems more likely than the nets having everyone healthy) I think we can beat the Bucks. We're 2-1 against the bucks this season. The first win we had no Kemba, no Fournier, no langford, no Parker. The 2nd win we had no Thompson, no Langford, no Fournier or Parker.
3) This extra rest is huge for us right now, having the extra day off before the ORL game, and then facing a bad ORL team. It doesn't seem like Tatum and Brown's injuries are that bad (although that's TBD) and Kemba should be back very soon. No back to backs in the playoffs so Kemba should play every playoff game.
4) Time Lord and playing well. Nesmith with 3 straight really good games and Fournier lighting it up the other night vs Portland and also hitting some shots vs the Spurs are all cause for optimism
5) The knicks got to the finals in 99 as an 8 seed, so ya never know! Rockets won it all in 95 as a 6 seed..Heat made the finals last year as a 5 seed because they picked up a couple of key role players mid-season and then got healthy and got hot at the right time of the year..
