The Celtics and the playoff race

With two games left in the regular season, not much stands between Boston, Atlanta and Orlando. All three teams have two games left, and out of the six games, only one is away.

Here's where they stand:

Boston: (37-27)

Tuesday: vs. Miami (46-18)

Thursday: vs. Milwaukee (30-33)

Atlanta: (38-26)

Tuesday: vs. LA Clippers (40-24)

Thursday: vs. Dallas (36-29)

Orlando: (36-28)

Tuesday: vs. Charlotte (7-56)

Thursday: at Memphis (39-25)

We are one game back of the Hawks and one game ahead of the Magic. The Magic are without Howard for the rest of the season and playoffs. The Hawks seem to want to get 1st round home court, but their last two games are against playoff-bound foes. Boston and Orlando will play one playoff team and one lottery team.

How do you think the last two games will go for these three teams? If we win both games and Atlanta only wins one, do we have the tie-breaker?

Bold prediction of the day: Orlando loses to the Bobcats (major trap game), so count Orlando out of the race for homecourt in the first round.

Thoughts?

At this point....dont care.

We can beat the Hawks in ATL....so not that worried about it

Would rather see Ray, Rondo and Pietrus get a few more days of rest.

mrkleen,

I think that your attitude closely matches that of the Celtics. I think they will rest all the walking wounded for the last two games and give the bench plenty of run.

gyso

At this point in the season everyone is beat up. But i think they need to play another reg season game to keep the chemistry flowing...just feeling a bit concerned that they could come out flat when the playoffs start.

Dboss

Boston owns the tie-breaker vs Atlanta.

Need to gain one game on 'em in the last two to get HCA against them. But Doc will probably be resting guys again. We play Miami tomorrow and the Heat still has a slight chance (needing to win their last two games and have Chicago lose their last two) to get the top seed. They only need to tie the Bulls since they won the season series. Atlanta is at home their final two and play the Clippers and Dallas and both want/need the games so they'll play hard.