The Final Kick

Just summing up the last handful of games left to the Celtics and the teams they are competing with for playoff seeding.

As of 3/30, here are the standings:

3.  Atlanta 45-31
4.  Boston 43-31
5.  Miami 43-31
6.  Charlotte 43-31


Here are their remaining games:

Atlanta

6 games left.  4 home, 2 away.
5 games vs teams >.500

vs Cleveland  52-22
vs Phoenix  20-55
vs Toronto  50-24
vs Boston  43-31
@ Cleveland  52-22
@ Washington  36-39


Boston

8 games left.  4 home, 4 away.
3 away games vs teams >.500
2 home games vs top rivals


@ Portland  39-36
@ GSW  68-7
@ LAL  16-59
vs NOP  27-47
vs Milwaukee  31-44
@ Atlanta  45-31
vs Charlotte  43-31
vs Miami  43-31


Miami

8 games left.  3 home, 5 away.
3 away games vs teams >.500
1 home game vs teams >.500

@ Sacramento  30-45
@ Portland  39-36
vs Detroit  40-35
vs Chicago  37-37
@ Orlando  31-43
vs Orlando  31-43
@ Detroit  40-35
@ Boston  43-31


Charlotte

8 games left, 3 home, 5 away.
3 of the away games against teams >.500
All home games vs stiffs

vs Philly  9-56
@ Cleveland  52-22
@ Toronto  50-24
@ Knicks  30-46
vs Nets  21-53
@ Washington  36-39
@ Boston 43-31
vs Orlando 31-43


bob


.

That vs atlanta game could be very pivotal for us... and I'm gonna be off somewhere in the wilderness hiking that weekend. Ugh!

They have the opportunity to claim home court advantage in the first round. I'd think that a 5-3 record in the last eight games would do it, especially if two of those wins come at the expense of Charlotte and Miami. Those last two games are huge.

Not that it's a primary consideration, but they also have the chance to ensure that Golden State doesn't break the 1985-86 Celtics 40-1 record for home games. If Doc were still the coach, I could see him using that as fuel for that game, but Stevens, not so much. Realistically, the Portland game is the one they should focus on more than the Warriors game, but the Blazers are tough at home. Portland and Golden State on the road, back to back -- that's one tall order.

If they can go 3-2 on the road during this stretch I think everyone will be pleased. I was hoping for wins over the Suns, Blazers and Lakers.

dboss