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Is the 1st-Seed Really What the Celtics Want?

By Jordan Van Beek

Dec 7, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) reacts with guard Terry Rozier (12) and forward Jae Crowder (99) against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic 117-87. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) reacts with guard Terry Rozier (12) and forward Jae Crowder (99) against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic 117-87. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives to the basket between Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) and forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 128-122. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives to the basket between Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) and forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 128-122. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Sure, having the 1st-seed over the Cleveland Cavaliers sounds great and certainly would be helpful in an Eastern Conference Finals matchup against Cleveland. But is that really what the Boston Celtics want? We’re going to take a look at the possible playoff matchups for the Celtics.

If the Celtics Stay the 2nd-Seed

As it stands now, the Celtics would take on the 7-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. This matchup is always a tough one for Boston. They lack size against players like Greg Monroe and the versatile Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately for the Bucks, they would be without Jabari Parker. In their first meeting in January, the Celtics got out of Milwaukee with a close 112-108 overtime win. This matchup shouldn’t be too tough to handle for the Celtics if they were to meet up in the postseason.

In the Eastern Conference Semifinals (if the season ended today), Boston would end up facing the Wizards or the Pacers. Ideally, the Celtics would love to take on a struggling Pacers team rather than a surging Wizards team. If Boston was to ever get so lucky and get a second round matchup against the Pacers, most would believe it would be a quick five game series. A playoff series against the Wizards would be a feisty one for sure. But Boston would be able to handle them pretty easily (based on Monday night’s performance) and take down the Wizards in a scrappy 5 or 6 game series.

Then obviously, there would be the Cavs waiting for a well-rested Boston team in the Eastern Conference Finals.

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