Impossible Road

With only eight games remaining the Celtics virtually have no chance of surpassing the Cleveland Cavaliers for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. Since my prediction of a 15-5 finish the Celtics have won six and lost four, and now are in a deadlock with Orlando for the number two seed. It was an important game against the Magic that was lost and with the loss the C's are now hard pressed to even earn the East's number two spot. Kevin Garnett watched helplessly as Paul Pierce heaved up a last second air ball to lose the game. Doc Rivers should have played Garnett in the fourth quarter due to the direct implications of this game on the playoff seeding. Resting KG for the playoffs? Not sure his thought process, but this moment in time held quite the playoff importance. Rest him the next game or two, but at least win against Orlando and earn the number two seed for this year's playoff run. You've already seceded the number one position to the Cavilers and now your team may drop down to third place? Know when to sit your post injured star and when to play him, you needed that win. From dreams of a 72-10 season, best record in the East, second best record in the East, all the day down to third best record in the conference. What is next a first or second round playoff exit?

The Celtics and Magic are tied for the second best record as they each trail Cleveland by five full games for the coveted number one seed. Boston has eight games remaining and Orlando has ten in which to jockey for the best position (first or second seed). While Orlando has a slightly more difficult schedule they have two more games left than Boston and are fully healthy riding a five game win streak. So it seems the Boston Celtics will rest the star player back to full health and accept the backseat with a number three seed and face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the postseason. The 76ers would stand no chance against their divisional foe and lose easily in Boston. The real concern would surface in the Eastern Semi Finals in a match up against Dwight Howard and the Magic. Even if the Celtics can out muscle a team that has beaten them in consecutive meetings, they will fall at the hands of Lebron in the Eastern Finals. The energy expended in eliminating the Magic will have been too great to then expect to go into Cleveland (where the Cavs have one loss all year) and vanquish the Cavilers. If my prediction and wish of another championship in Boston is to come to fruition we'll need a fully healthy Celtics team and nearly flawless execution from the Big Three and a contribution from the newest members of the team (Marbury and Moore). The road to the NBA finals will be heavily guarded by the Magic and Cavilers and perhaps the playoff seeding wont make any difference knowing the enemy remains either way. 

There are no more predictions, there is nothing left to say, and the Celtics will either be the number two or three seed in the Eastern Conference. The dominant emergence of Lebron's Cavs unveils gloom over Celtic dreams of back to back NBA titles, but if history teaches us anything never doubt the heart of a champion. Our only hope is for Kevin Garnett to return with the fiery passion that revamped a dormant franchise and changed a culture of losing. The Celtics chances of repeating as champions of the basketball world are good, but not great. Feast your eyes on the home stretch of the NBA season and prepare for the impossible road through Cleveland.