RealGM

Next week we'll see perhaps the toughest 4 game strech of the season. The matchups are extremely intriguing: the defending champs, followed by the hottest team in the league back-to-back, then onto 2 tough multi all-star teams, all on the road.

Mon 4/17 @ San Antonio
Tue 4/18 @ Houston
Thu 4/20 @ Dallas
Sat 4/22 @ New Orleans

How will we fare?

Personally I think the C's are amazingly focused right now and will want to redeem the last west coast trip and make a statement. I say they go 4-0. I know, ambitious, but with the Spurs at the top of the trip (I don't count the Bucks game as a challenge, sorry...) I think they'll be ready.

Predictions? Let's make em and check back at the end of the week.

I'm the one that voted 2-2. I think 4-0 (2 votes so far) is possible but very difficult. Even great teams lose a game or two.

I don't think anyone can beat us right now

I would love 4-0. But I dont see it happening. 3-1 is the choice for me.

The Houston game is brutal, nobody's hotter and it's back to back behind SA? Thats just cruel. If we go 2-0 on those first two we'll go 4-0 but I'm thinking we will go down in Houston - then NO

I see either 3-1 (my vote) or 2-2. Houston, San Antonio, and New Orleans are not only the class of the west but they're also hot as of late. I expect a win in Dallas (they're not as good as in years pasts for some odd reason) but the other three are coinflips. I would love to see both streaks alive when we play Houston, that would add even more excitement to that game.

3-1, but honestly, these teams win about 90 percent of their home games...they don't lose to anybody, so winning any of them will be very tough...

...So i'll say that the C's lose to New Orleans because:

A. They haven't seen them yet
B. Chris Paul will destroy our PG duo offensively (he's unstoppable)

I think San Antonio is really good, but Boston is better. Their top 3 players are better and their role players are more productive than the aging SA counterparts.

Dallas is solid in transition, but KG is the Dirk-stopper...he's the perfect stor for Dirk's offensive game and he can't defend KG at all...unless he's hitting ever challenged fade-away (which he's capable of doing) I think he'll be relatively quite and I don't see Terry and Howard going off on Pierce or Allen...if Rondo can harass an aging Kidd they should be in good shape..

Houston wont win...don't care if its back-to-back...they are a tough club and McGrady is playing awesome, but he's only one man and the merry band of role players aren't going to be able to outproduce a fully operational GPA with the support they're getting...don't see it happening, all due respect to their winning streak...they'll likely lose to LA before then anyways...

...C's could win these all and probably have their minds set to due so in order to make a statement to the rest of the league after their last west coast swing...I wouldn't want to be any team facing Boston right now, but the team isn't invincible, so they can definitely be beaten by another elite club playing at their best...

...but it'll take these teams BEST effort to beat Boston the way they're playing now and with the focus they'll likely be bringing to these games...there's no margin for error when playing Boston right now...far, far too good of an OFF/DEF balance to afford error...

4-0? i see too much confidence here, this is the Southwest, not a joke division like the Atlantic where the Raptors are the second best team... LOL...

Phoenix Rockets wrote:4-0? i see too much confidence here, this is the Southwest, not a joke division like the Atlantic where the Raptors are the second best team... LOL...

The Southwest is a great division. The Celtics are 5-0 against the Southwest.

The West is a great conference. The Celtics are 20-3 against the West.


My guess is 3-1. Could swing one game either way from that.

I realize Houston is on that huge streak. But they dont really scare me all that much. I think we should prob go 3-1 on the trip. We are playing our best basketball of the year.

i also think 3-1 is safe. 4-0 is possible though.

We might lose one, but we should win any of those games.

Phoenix Rockets wrote:4-0? i see too much confidence here, this is the Southwest, not a joke division like the Atlantic where the Raptors are the second best team... LOL...

Not to sound overconfident, but we've won EVERY game this season thus far against the Texas teams. Plus KG didn't play in the Spurs and Dallas games and we still won.

Does last night's blowout loss give anyone pause?

Cyclical wrote:Does last night's blowout loss give anyone pause?

Ray Allen's ankle injury did. If they don't have Ray it will be a rough week. With him, they might have won last night.

Any news on his condition?

I can't see them losing more than one game after last night's disappointment/embarrassment, as long as Ray Allen plays, but I can't go with 4-0. I'll say 3-1 with the one loss coming to NO or SA.