Post#7 » by evildallas » Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:26 pm
Last year, the team had the "We're going to shock the world" mantra. They didn't win over Boston, but going 7 actually was enough to shock the world. I'm not sure what the mantra will be this year. Maybe "Proving we belong" or "Taking care of business" in round one. We're in that awkward area where we should be favored in round 1, but we've never won anything. Then if we make it to round 2, we'll be massive underdogs. So one mantra really doesn't work for the entirety of the playoffs.
As for Rondo's comments being bulletin board fodder, they would be if we played Boston. As in Boston doesn't believe we belong in a series with them. However that is very unlikely to occur. If Boston continues on course they finish 2nd or 3rd. We have to collapse and have 2 teams overtake us to fall to 6th. The truth of our situation is that even if we don't hold on to 4th place we are unlikely to fall below 5th because it would take Miami and Philly both getting very hot at the same time. If things play out as projected in regular season we'd have to make the finals to see Boston in a series.
Using it as generic playoff bulletin board material, does it come into play against Miami? or Philadelphia? or Cleveland? Eh, no. Rondo's opinion was only that we aren't Boston's rival not that we suck or don't belong in the playoffs. Wait for a comment from someone that says we're glad we got Atlanta as a opponent. That's can be construed as disrespect.
Going to donkey punch a leprechaun!
