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Boston Celtics: 2 reasons why Cs should tank during play-in tournament

By Mark Nilon

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a call during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on April 23, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 109-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a call during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on April 23, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 109-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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It’s official — the Boston Celtics are heading towards a spot in the highly controversial play-in tournament.

After making it to three Eastern Conference Finals appearances over the last four seasons, with last year’s run finding themselves coming within just two games of attaining their first NBA Finals berth since 2010, the shamrocks have stumbled all throughout the 2020-21 campaign and, now, are paying the price by taking part in these experimental exhibitions.

Not eliminated from the postseason, yet not guaranteed a spot even after Sunday’s regular-season finale against the New York Knicks — who clinched a berth themselves Wednesday night with Boston’s disgusting loss to the Cavaliers — the Cs currently hold the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference standings and, should things remain the same, they’ll be playing the Charlotte Hornets in “round one” of the play-in.

Should they win, Beantown would then go on to secure their standing in the seventh seed, thus making it their seventh straight postseason appearance.

If they were to lose, however, they’d then find themselves with one more opportunity to nab a playoff spot, as they’d go up against the winner between the ninth and tenth seed matchup where, whoever wins, lands the eighth slot.

Now, with all this in mind, we at the Houdini have been thinking — how important is it for the Boston Celtics to make the postseason this year?

Don’t get us wrong, we love seeing competitive basketball as much as the next person, especially when it’s to the benefit of the Cs.

That said, this current roster is certainly not a playoff contender and we shouldn’t even begin to pretend like they are.

Even if they had Jaylen Brown in tow, who was lost to a season-ending wrist injury earlier this week, it would have been hard to imagine this squad advancing farther than the second round. Without him, however, it’s hard to imagine they’ll be able to rattle off four wins in any seven-game series.

When looking at things with this mindset, is it really worth it for this Celtics squad to push for a playoff spot if all that awaits them is an embarrassing early-round exit?

To be clear, if you have a differing mindset to this, it’s totally fine and we completely respect that. Should they advance to the playoffs, we will obviously be cheering them on till their season officially comes to an end.

That said, there’s an argument to be made that there are some benefits that could come from the Boston Celtics taking part in a semi-tank during the upcoming play-in tournament.

Today, we present to you 2 in specific:

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