Season Predictions 2016
Current seeding: 3rd
Projected seeding: 3rd
Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Boston are all within a game or two of each other for the 3rd to 6th spots out East, and the the only thing we can expect about how the standings will play out is that we can't expect anything. I'm giving it to the Celtics, however, as not only do they have games against the Lakers, Pelicans, Bucks, and Bucks down the stretch to fatten up their win total, but they also control their own destiny here: their final three games of the season, ironically enough, are against Atlanta, Charlotte, and Miami, in that order. They’ve deserved it too: excellent coaching, brilliant leadership from star PG Isaiah Thomas, the emergence of SF Jae Crowder and others, and all of their players simply pulling their own weight. Head coach Brad Stevens has a plethora of options to put on the floor at any given moment: scorers, defenders, shooters, backcourt, frontcourt, you-name-it. Despite Thomas being the lone true star on the squad, this team and it’s depth are built to last the marathon that is the regular season.
First round: Atlanta Hawks (6)
But are they built to last the sprint that is the playoffs? As I’ve said before, postseason basketball can be completely different from regular season basketball: there is more physicality, more pressure, and shorter rotations -- all of which hurt the Celtics. While they do have some quality big fellas down low, Boston has never excelled at rebounding, nor have they been known to be a particularly physical team. The added pressure also will not help this collection of youngsters, most of which have never had the experience of even making it past the first round in their young careers. Cutting rotations is a common -- and logical -- practice come April: teams want their stars to play more, and they are able to arrange that due to the shorter postseason not fatiguing them as much as it would in the regular season, if you follow. As Boston is a balanced team, cutting their rotations won’t be of a significant advantage to them. Atlanta, on the other hand, is the opposite of these factors: a pair of physical big men in C Al Horford and PF Paul Millsap up front, an experienced roster who has been there and done that, and a team that is top-heavy enough to adequately adjust to playoff basketball. The Celtics may be the better regular season team, but the Hawks are clearly the more apt post-season team.
Prediction: Atlanta wins, 4-3
Current seeding: 3rd
Projected seeding: 3rd
Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Boston are all within a game or two of each other for the 3rd to 6th spots out East, and the the only thing we can expect about how the standings will play out is that we can't expect anything. I'm giving it to the Celtics, however, as not only do they have games against the Lakers, Pelicans, Bucks, and Bucks down the stretch to fatten up their win total, but they also control their own destiny here: their final three games of the season, ironically enough, are against Atlanta, Charlotte, and Miami, in that order. They’ve deserved it too: excellent coaching, brilliant leadership from star PG Isaiah Thomas, the emergence of SF Jae Crowder and others, and all of their players simply pulling their own weight. Head coach Brad Stevens has a plethora of options to put on the floor at any given moment: scorers, defenders, shooters, backcourt, frontcourt, you-name-it. Despite Thomas being the lone true star on the squad, this team and it’s depth are built to last the marathon that is the regular season.
First round: Atlanta Hawks (6)
But are they built to last the sprint that is the playoffs? As I’ve said before, postseason basketball can be completely different from regular season basketball: there is more physicality, more pressure, and shorter rotations -- all of which hurt the Celtics. While they do have some quality big fellas down low, Boston has never excelled at rebounding, nor have they been known to be a particularly physical team. The added pressure also will not help this collection of youngsters, most of which have never had the experience of even making it past the first round in their young careers. Cutting rotations is a common -- and logical -- practice come April: teams want their stars to play more, and they are able to arrange that due to the shorter postseason not fatiguing them as much as it would in the regular season, if you follow. As Boston is a balanced team, cutting their rotations won’t be of a significant advantage to them. Atlanta, on the other hand, is the opposite of these factors: a pair of physical big men in C Al Horford and PF Paul Millsap up front, an experienced roster who has been there and done that, and a team that is top-heavy enough to adequately adjust to playoff basketball. The Celtics may be the better regular season team, but the Hawks are clearly the more apt post-season team.
Prediction: Atlanta wins, 4-3